From: [m--g--s] at [hempbc.com] (Dana Larsen) Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,alt.drugs,alt.drugs.culture,talk.politics.drugs,rec.drugs.cannabis,rec.drugs.misc Subject: BILL C-7: What can you do? Date: Wed, 08 Nov 1995 15:31:46 -0700 This is the fifth and final post in a series on Bill C-7, the Controlled Drugs & Substances Act. All of this material is available at www.hempbc.com. What follows are a series of letters that you should print out and send to the appropriate people. Letters to the House of Commons and the Senate require no postage in Canada. LETTER #1 & #2 The first two letters are to Gerald Beaudoin. He is the Chair of the Committee that will be examining Bill C-7 in the Senate. This is the most important letter you can send, so pick the one you like best and send it tonight. All it costs is five minutes and an envelope. The Hon. Gerald A. Beaudoin Chairman of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal & Constitutional Affairs The Senate Wellington St., Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A4 Dear Mr Beaudoin, I am sending you this letter because I want to register my opposition to Bill C-7, the Controlled Drugs & Substances Act. This legislation does nothing to advance the health and welfare of Canadians, and instead attacks Canadian rights and freedoms in pursuit of an unobtainable goal. Despite public opinion and the testimony of experts, Bill C-7 makes no change to Canada’s harsh penalties for simple possession of marijuana. Bill C-7 does not even make marijuana available for legitimate medical use. Instead, Bill C-7 empowers police to actively sell illegal drugs, and increases police power to arbitrarily search Canadians and seize their property. It also includes procedures to ‘streamline” the judicial process so that more drug users can be charged with longer sentences and less opportunity for debate. I urge the Standing Committee on Legal & Constitutional Affairs to undertake a comprehensive review of Bill C-7 and Canada’s drug policy. This is a unique opportunity to impartially examine the costs and benefits of continued prohibition against harm reduction. I also urge the Committee to support the legitimate medical use of marijuana. That this healing herb is being kept from the sick and dying who need is a travesty which could be easily remedied by the Committee. Please keep me appraised of your Committee’s intentions in regard to Bill C-7. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your time and attention. Yours Truly, The Hon. Gerald A. Beaudoin Chairman of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal & Constitutional Affairs The Senate Wellington St., Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A4 Dear Mr Beaudoin, This letter is in regards to Bill C-7, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Bill C-7 is a regressive and counter productive piece of legislation, and I want to ask the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs to hold extensive hearings on this bill. Passing Bill C-7 was the final act of Parliament on October 30th, the day of the Quebec referendum, and so there was no official opposition as the entire Bloc Quebecois was absent from the House of Commons. Why did this bill need to be passed under such circumstances? Could it be that this prohibitionist legislation was withdrawn from the summer session because of negative public response, only to be snuck through when the eyes of the nation were focussed elsewhere? I hope that the Senate is able to provide the opportunity for more public awareness and open debate about the real costs and limited benefits of a prohibitionist drug policy. This nation needs to re-examine the sensibilities of those who pass laws to “streamline” the justice system and “fast track” marijuana users into long jail terms. Bill C-7 also makes no provision for the medical use of marijuana, despite the fact that marijuana has a number of medical applications and there is no international restriction against its medical use. It is expensive, immoral and completely unjustifiable to continue the criminal prohibition of marijuana. I hope that the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs will be able to provide a forum for a comprehensive review of Bill C-7. Canadians deserve better than a drug policy passed in the shadow of a referendum that almost broke the nation. Yours sincerely, LETTER #3 This letter is to Diane Marleau, the Minister of Health & Welfare. The Hon. Diane Marleau Minister of National Health & Welfare Room 256 - Confederation Building House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Dear Ms. Marleau, I am shocked and outraged that your Ministry chose to pass Bill C-7 on the day of the Quebec referendum, in the absence of the official opposition. It frightens me that my government is passing important and controversial legislation under these circumstances, without any opportunity for real public debate and awareness. I am in complete agreement with the conclusion of Canadian Bar Association’s submission on Bill C-7, which states: "The prohibition approach to drug control is outdated and has proven ineffective in decreasing drug use, reducing crime, or improving public or individual health. Bill C-7 will result in a significant increase in rates of incarceration and in lengths of sentences, and will place additional stresses on an already overburdened criminal justice system. It will not contribute to public health but will accomplish exactly the opposite. "Bill C-7 represents a misguided approach to drug control, one that is unnecessary and costly to Canadians." I am very disappointed that the subcommittee on Bill C-7 chose to ignore this testimony, as well as that of the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy, the Addiction Research Foundation, the Criminal Lawyers’ Association, the Toronto Department of Public Health, and the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse. All of these groups called for a drug policy based upon tolerance and harm reduction. Instead of following the opinion and advice of these experts in the field of law, health, and drug policy, your Ministry chose to pass this bill as the last act of Parliament on the day of a possibly nation-breaking referendum. It is hard for me to have faith in a government that acts in such a capricious and secretive manner with matters of such primary importance to all Canadians. I am also dismayed that Bill C-7 makes no provision for the medical use of marijuana. Marijuana is a safe and effective medicine for many ailments and should not be denied to those sick and dying people for whom its use could be a benefit. I do not understand why cocaine and heroin are allowed for legitimate medical use and marijuana is not. Paul Szabo stated in Parliament that his subcommittee had made certain recommendations to the Standing Committee on Health. The first recommendation was that an expert task force be formed to devise rational criteria for schedules 1 to 7 of the control of drugs and substances act. The second recommendation was that the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health undertake a comprehensive review of existing drug policy. Mr Szabo also stated “I am pleased to report that the Minister of Health has already informally given her concurrence that a comprehensive review of our drug policy should be conducted.” It is my opinion that Bill C-7 should not be passed until the scheduling task force and drug policy review have been completed. There is no sense in allowing bad legislation to become law when it is not necessary, and Bill C-7 is definitely not necessary. I would like to know exactly when this task force will be formed, and when the comprehensive review of existing drug policy will take place. I also ask to be kept informed of all further developments in this regard. Thank you for your time and attention. I hope to hear from you soon. Yours Sincerely, LETTER #4 This letter is to Hedy Fry, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and one of the members of the Bill C-7 subcommittee. Hedy Fry Room 558-D, Centre Block House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Dear Ms. Fry, This letter is to express my extreme disappointment in you, the subcommittee on Bill C-7, the Ministry of Health, and the Liberal government. It was an extremely undemocratic and irresponsible act for Bill C-7, the Controlled Drugs & Substances Act, to be given third reading and passed in the absence of the Official Opposition. When Bill C-7 was withdrawn from the summer session, Canadians were told that it was so changes could be made to the legislation based upon the recommendations and input received. We were not notified that it was withdrawn so that it could be slipped past Canadians in the shadow of the Quebec referendum. In your speech during third reading of Bill C-7 you spoke of “tolerance, compassion and concern,” yet Bill C-7 is about “streamlining” the judicial process and having prosecutors ”be more likely to lay the charges they should have been laying.” You also stated that “some people in subcommittee were even saying we should decriminalize marijuana. However, by international law we cannot decriminalize it.” Why did you not explain that Canada can easily withdraw from these conventions, or that Holland is also a signatory to the same treaties as Canada? Are you unaware of these facts, or did you simply choose not to share them with your fellow Parliamentarians? I would also like to know why Bill C-7 makes no allowance for the medical use of marijuana. Marijuana has many medical aspects and should be legally available to Canadians who could benefit from its use. Heroin and cocaine are available for therapeutic and medicinal use, why isn’t marijuana? By ignoring the testimony of the groups that came before your subcommittee and passing Bill C-7 without substantial changes, you have sentenced hundreds of Canadians to death and thousands more to prison. I hope that you will come to realize the error of prohibitionist legislation like Bill C-7, and work instead toward creating a drug policy based upon the principles of tolerance and harm reduction. Thank you for your time and attention. I look forward to your response. Yours Truly, LETTER #5 & 6 These two letters are for your local MP. The first is for a Liberal MP, the second is for a Reform MP. We are preparing a letter in French for a Bloc Quebecois MP. If you have an NDP MP, I'm afraid you have to write your own letter. LIBERAL MP NAME HERE House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Dear LIBERAL MP, This letter is to express my extreme disappointment in the Liberal Party. It was an extremely undemocratic and irresponsible act for Bill C-7, the Controlled Drugs & Substances Act, to be given third reading and passed in the abscence of the official opposition. When Bill C-7 was withdrawn from the summer session, Canadians were told that it was so changes could be made to the legislation based upon the recommendations and input received. We were not notified that it was withdrawn so that it could be slipped past Canadians in the shadow of the Quebec referendum. While speaking on Bill C-7 in Parliament, Paul Szabo stated that satisfying the requirements of the International Narcotics Control Board was “the most important reason for this piece of legislation.” He did not explain that Canada can easily withdraw from these conventions, or that Holland is also a signatory to the same treaties as Canada and yet still manages to have a drug policy based upon tolerance and harm reduction. I am in agreement with Eugene Oscapella, President of the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy, who testified before the Bill C-7 subcommittee that “this bill will neither stop the flow of drugs into Canada, nor the production of drugs within Canada... it does absolutely nothing to address the multiple causes of drug use in society.” “In the guise of complying with international drug control conventions, we are trampling all over international human rights conventions.” These sentiments were echoed by the Addiction Research Foundation, the Canadian Bar Association, the Criminal Lawyers’ Association, the Toronto Department of Public Health, the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse, and a majority of the different organizations that came before the subcommittee. I would also like to voice my support for the medical use of marijuana. Marijuana has many medical aspects and should be legally available to Canadians who could benefit from its use. Heroin and cocaine are available for therapeutic and medicinal use, why isn’t marijuana? By ignoring the testimony of the groups that came before the Bill C-7 subcommittee and passing Bill C-7 without substantial changes, the Liberal party has sentenced hundreds of Canadians to death and thousands more to prison. I hope that your party will come to realize the error of prohibitionist legislation like Bill C-7, and work instead to create a drug policy based upon the principles of tolerance and harm reduction. Thank you for your time and attention. I look forward to your thoughts on these matters. Yours Sincerely, REFORM MP NAME HERE House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Dear REFORM MP, This letter is to express my extreme disappointment in the Reform Party. It was an extremely undemocratic and irresponsible act for Bill C-7, the Controlled Drugs & Substances Act, to be given third reading and passed in the absence of the Official Opposition. Without the Bloc Québecois in the House, the Reform party had a magnificent opportunity to challenge the prohibitionists and shame them for their attempt to ignore the testimony that had been presented to them and pass Bill C-7 in the shadow of the referendum. Instead, Reform Health Critic Grant Hill did not raise any of the fundamental issues surrounding Bill C-7. He did not challenge Paul Szabo’s statement that satisfying the requirements of the International Narcotics Control Board was “the most important reason for this piece of legislation.” Dr Hill did not explain that Canada can easily withdraw from these conventions, or that Holland is also a signatory to the same treaties as Canada and yet still manages to have a drug policy based upon tolerance and harm reduction. Neither did any Reform MP stand up to challenge Paul Szabo’s statement that “Marijuana is about 15 times more potent today than it was 10 years ago. Marijuana today is as potent as cocaine was 10 years ago. Let there be no confusion, marijuana is a dangerous drug...” Although these claims are absolute nonsense, no Reform MP raised his voice in protest. This is disgraceful behaviour. I am in agreement with the Canadian Bar Association’s submission on Bill C-7, which concluded that: "The prohibition approach to drug control is outdated and has proven ineffective in decreasing drug use, reducing crime, or improving public or individual health. Bill C-7 will result in a significant increase in rates of incarceration and in lengths of sentences, and will place additional stresses on an already overburdened criminal justice system. It will not contribute to public health but will accomplish exactly the opposite. "Bill C-7 represents a misguided approach to drug control, one that is unnecessary and costly to Canadians." These sentiments were echoed by the Addiction Research Foundation, the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy, the Criminal Lawyers’ Association, the Toronto Department of Public Health, the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse, and a majority of the different organizations that came before the subcommittee. I would also like to voice my support for the medical use of marijuana. Marijuana has many medical aspects and should be legally available to Canadians who could benefit from its use. Heroin and cocaine are available for therapeutic and medicinal use, why isn’t marijuana? By ignoring the testimony of the groups that came before the Bill C-7 subcommittee and passing Bill C-7 without substantial changes, the Liberal party has sentenced hundreds of Canadians to death and thousands more to prison. I hope that the Reform party will work against this to promote a drug policy based upon the principles of tolerance and harm reduction. Thank you for your time and attention. I look forward to your thoughts on these matters. Sincerely Yours, LETTER #7 This is a letter to your local paper. It would be much better if you could write your own letter, but this one will do nicely. To the Editor, The day before Hallowe’en was a very scary day for Canadians. Many of us were afraid that we would lose our country because of a public vote in Quebec. We didn’t realize that we were also losing our freedom because of a private vote in Ottawa. Late in the afternoon of October 30th, as the ballots were being counted in the Quebec referendum, the Canadian parliament passed Bill C-7, the Controlled Drugs & Substances Act. The official opposition, the Bloc Quebecois, were not in present to speak or vote against the bill, as they had chosen to boycott Parliament that day because of the referendum. Bill C-7 makes no provision for the medical use of marijuana, and makes no reduction to the harsh penalties for marijuana possession. Despite pleas from the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy, the Canadian Bar Association, and the Criminal Lawyers Association, Paul Szabo and his sub-committee have refused to back away from imprisoning peaceful users of marijuana. According to Hedy Fry, Bill C-7 will “streamline” the judicial process, which means that more pot smokers will be going to jail, without the inconvenience of an expensive and time consuming trial by jury. Is this justice? International treaties are no reason to imprison responsible and patriotic Canadians who happen to use marijuana. The Netherlands is a signatory to the same treaties as Canada, and yet their drug policy is drastically different, and more succesful, than ours. Canadian drug policy is a serious issue. It deserves serious, open debate. We must not tolerate a government that passes such important legislation behind closed doors, plotting more efficient ways to imprison their citizens while the fate of a country hangs in the balance. Yours Sincerely, ***** That's it! Please, if you are a Canadian, take the time to print these out and mail them off. It's even better if you write your own letters, but printing and mailing off these letters is a powerful and important act. Don't delay. Print these out and mail them off right now. A little effort can bring a lot of freedom. No effort brings more prohibition. Thanks for your time and attention. -- Dana Larsen Editor, Cannabis Canada "The Magazine of Canada's Cannabis Culture" Suite 405 - 21 ater St., Vancouver, BC, V6B 1A1 tel: 604-669-9069 fax: 604-669-9038 toll free: 1-800-330-HEMP Visit Cannabis Canada On-line at http://www.hempbc.com