STATEMENT ON CANNABIS REFORM
Some of you may be aware that my office was picketed by pro-cannibis protesters today.
I believe the issue of cannabis reform should be addressed in Parliament, and am discouraged by the ideological approach taken by Stephen Harper and the Conservative government on this issue.
In November 2004 the former Liberal government introduced legislation (Bill C-17) that would have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of cannabis, and the production of three marijuana plants or fewer by an individual for personal possession only. It is important to stress that this legislation was not a push to the legalization of cannabis, or encourage the use of marijuana, but rather part of a larger overall drug prevention strategy that would free resources to counter harder, more addictive drugs like Heroin, Cocaine, Crystal Meth, or LSD.
This was accompanied by legislation that increased severely the fines and penalties for "Grow-ops" and for traffickers. These legislative pieces formed a small part of a comprehensive strategy recommended by a Parliamentary Sub-Committee on the non-medical use of drugs, of which I was a Member.
The strategy as it related to marijuana did not advocate legalization, but decriminalization for personal use, together with further research on the long term effects of cannabis, public education and awareness, testing for impaired driving, and treatment & rehabilitation for those who had become dependent.
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For more information:
Office of the Hon. Hedy Fry
604.666.0135 / fryh@parl.gc.ca
