Crime Omnibus Bill

[hitchcockgreen]

This s**t passed today..... http://ccla.org/omnibus-crime-bill-c-10/

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[Dx.]

I didn't see that part on the page.

[hitchcockgreen]

Heh. The bill still has to go by the senate (at which point the Cons are expected to try and tack on a half dozen amendments) and is expected to be enacted around March 2012.
Basically it makes changes to law where minimal sentencing is mandatory even in instances where the offender would benefit more from treatment of a mental illness.
It also goes on to say that if someone shares a joint with a buddy they can now be charged with trafficking.
It also allows police agencies to spy and collect data on people online without a warrant.

The two most populous provinces are refusing to accept the legislation. Particularly Quebec, who has long had successful restorative justice programs which this legislation would cripple.

This has more to with the Con government wanting to introduce the booming American economy of supermax prisons than anything else - a system of inflated imprisonment rates that has long since been regarded as a failure.

They've previously stated they'd like to build them to house "the dark figure of crime" (which makes absolutely no sense since that term refers to a supposition statistic of unreported crime - how do you prosecute and convict a criminal of an unreported crime?)

Let me just say this: our mad, egomaniacal prime minister is a Nickelback fan. A HUGE fan.
That really just tells you everything, doesn't it?

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[Blunt Force Trauma]

This has more to with the Con government wanting to introduce the booming American economy of supermax prisons than anything else - a system of inflated imprisonment rates that has long since been regarded as a failure.

A quick and easy fix is to nationally decriminalize marijuana across the US. If it was done today, it would ease the prison population in federal and state systems by around 15% in 5-7 years. Better yet, release all non-trafficking marijuana related incarcerations now and save the taxpayer a couple billion in the next two or three years.

[hitchcockgreen]

Totally agree with you there.
Makes absolutely no sense to have alcohol and tobacco legal but not marijuana. Perhaps Big Tobacco sees it as major competition and lobbies against it?

Really....what if tobacco companies sold marijuana instead of tobacco cigarettes or sold both. Certainly they would stand to profit from it.

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[FirBirGir]

What do you think the anti-smoking activists would do if marijuana was legalized? Are they going to try the "Smoking Kills but Weed is OK" campaign?

Marijuana is no more harmful than alcohol, it should be treated as such.

[Blunt Force Trauma]

We can pound the fed with study after study showing marijuana to be much less dangerous
across the board than alcohol, but it seems Uncle Sam has his fingers in his ears.

"Drivers under the influence of marijuana reduce their velocity, avoid
risky maneuvers, and increase their “following distances,” suggesting compensatory behavior
(Kelly et al. 2004; Sewell et al. 2009). In addition, there appears to be an important learning-bydoing
component to driving under the influence of marijuana: experienced users show
substantially less functional impairment than infrequent users (Sutton 1983)."

[FirBirGir]

I should be illegal to operate a vehicle while under the influence, whether it's alcohol or weed. I believe that's already covered by existing laws except you get the extra charge of possession along with the DUI.

I think one aspect that holds politicians back is the criminal element in marijuana. Yes, it's because it's illegal that criminals do it but you can't flip a switch and have all the criminals go away. There's going to be a period of escalated violence and purging that would eventually push the bad guys out of business (think prohibition and the repeal).

[Blunt Force Trauma]

I believe those wishing to profit from prohibited substances and activities will merely redirect their attention to something else once marijuana is decriminalized, and/or especially legalized. Be it transporting cigarettes, trafficking 'real' drugs, running prostitutes, etc., they will find something that offers high returns for little or no investment.

The argument marijuana is a 'gateway' drug is because it is now illegal, and illegal substances are usually found in the mist of other illegal substances. Bottom line, it's a plant. . . and generally an unaltered plant. The stuff just isn't that dangerous, and it's intoxicating ability isn't that extreme when abused, as is most all other illicit drugs. I have personally seen different individuals abuse most all the "street drugs" over the years, and if I had to depend on a person abusing any single substance, it would far and away be either the tobacco or marijuana abuser.

[Ded10c]

Cannabis has indeed been proven to increase concentration under many laboratory tests... funny governments are still so unwilling to legalise it. IIRC it was only made illegal in the first place due to pressure from tobacco companies. [/english]

On the bright side, I'm glad that at least *this* one doesn't affect the UK

[Dx.]

If marijuana was legalized no one could pass the drug testing to get a job thus Obama could kill more jobs. heh

[FirBirGir]

Bottom line, it's a plant. . . and generally an unaltered plant. The stuff just isn't that dangerous, and it's intoxicating ability isn't that extreme when abused, as is most all other illicit drugs. I have personally seen different individuals abuse most all the "street drugs" over the years, and if I had to depend on a person abusing any single substance, it would far and away be either the tobacco or marijuana abuser.

Not all plants are created equal though. It's like the fireworks you can buy legally then there's the "real" fireworks that can blow your hand off. Potency varies from one variety to the next - http://www.marijuanastrains.com/

[Blunt Force Trauma]

Further pseudo scientific evidence that you drive better. . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 6Fcks7pla0

[FirBirGir]

This may hold true until his favorite song comes on the radio and forgets he's driving and start dancing

[Blunt Force Trauma]

Not all plants are created equal though. It's like the fireworks you can buy legally then there's the "real" fireworks that can blow your hand off. Potency varies from one variety to the next - http://www.marijuanastrains.com/

Very true. But the drastic gap between trash and 'killer' is not like it was 25 years ago. Now, most sources and strains are pretty high, 10% or above.

[FirBirGir]

heh, the result of years of backyard genetic engineering...

[Blunt Force Trauma]

Back in the -old- days, backyard genetic crossbreeding and S.M.A.R.T. breeding were called 'Frankenstein' plants. Now, growing modified plants has turned into a multimillion dollar industry. As your link shows, there are dozens of names for marijuana variations. The plants smelling literally like pineapples, strawberries, coffee, chocolate, etc., have arrived for a few years now.

If and when it is legalized, I imagine there will be even more manipulation. But similar to a great coffee or good scotch, the true aficionado may not want an overly bastardized plant, and prefer just a mildly strong stain. Plants producing well above 20% THC may also not be preferred, as the smoker cannot thoroughly enjoy the flavor and the relaxation of an entire joint because of the extreme potency.

All this opinion is from reading articles you understand.

[hitchcockgreen]

I used to know a rather prodigious grower. We named his own crop after him on his behalf.
He had come up with a rather ingenious irrigation system to grow indoors.
His was the best and this was Vancouver so that's saying a lot.

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[Blunt Force Trauma]

There's a growing movement of law enforcement personal that's tired of the endless tragedy of fighting the flood.

http://www.leap.cc/about/why-legalize-drugs/

[hitchcockgreen]

Pssst. Government. If it's legal, you can tax it.