Read on, and be happy.
Source: Associated Press
Windsor, Ontario -- Canada's failure to change its marijuana laws as ordered by an earlier court ruling caused a judge to drop a possession charge against a 16-year-old boy Thursday.
The case amounts to a challenge to the validity of the Canadian law that makes possession of marijuana illegal.
Lawyer Brian McAllister argued in court that the federal government never reworked its marijuana laws despite the 2000 Ontario court ruling that it should make medicinal marijuana available to legitimate patients.
Instead of writing new laws, the government passed regulations to create a medical marijuana system.
McAllister argued that the situation means Canada effectively has no law prohibiting possession of about an ounce or less of marijuana.
Justice Douglas Phillips agreed, dropping the charges against the youth, who cannot be named because of his age.
While the ruling involves only one case, it signals further momentum toward the possible decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana in Canada.
Two Parliament committees have recommended eliminating or easing laws against marijuana possession. Justice Minister Martin Cauchon says he will introduce legislation in upcoming months to make possession of small amounts of pot similar to a traffic violation, punishable by a fine with no criminal record.
U.S. officials oppose any moves by Canada toward greater leniency, warning of tighter border controls to combat increased smuggling.
Eight U.S. states have taken some kind of step toward permitting the medicinal use of marijuana. The U.S. Supreme Court, however, has ruled there is no exception in federal law for people to use marijuana, so even those with tolerant state laws could face arrest if they do.
Source: Associated Press
Windsor, Ontario -- Canada's failure to change its marijuana laws as ordered by an earlier court ruling caused a judge to drop a possession charge against a 16-year-old boy Thursday.
The case amounts to a challenge to the validity of the Canadian law that makes possession of marijuana illegal.
Lawyer Brian McAllister argued in court that the federal government never reworked its marijuana laws despite the 2000 Ontario court ruling that it should make medicinal marijuana available to legitimate patients.
Instead of writing new laws, the government passed regulations to create a medical marijuana system.
McAllister argued that the situation means Canada effectively has no law prohibiting possession of about an ounce or less of marijuana.
Justice Douglas Phillips agreed, dropping the charges against the youth, who cannot be named because of his age.
While the ruling involves only one case, it signals further momentum toward the possible decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana in Canada.
Two Parliament committees have recommended eliminating or easing laws against marijuana possession. Justice Minister Martin Cauchon says he will introduce legislation in upcoming months to make possession of small amounts of pot similar to a traffic violation, punishable by a fine with no criminal record.
U.S. officials oppose any moves by Canada toward greater leniency, warning of tighter border controls to combat increased smuggling.
Eight U.S. states have taken some kind of step toward permitting the medicinal use of marijuana. The U.S. Supreme Court, however, has ruled there is no exception in federal law for people to use marijuana, so even those with tolerant state laws could face arrest if they do.
![[The Leader]](data:image/svg+xml;base64,CgkJCTxzdmcgeG1sbnM9J2h0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnJyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNTAgNTAnPgoJCQkJPHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9JzEwMCUnIGhlaWdodD0nMTAwJScgZmlsbD0nIzc5YTllMicgLz4KCQkJCTx0ZXh0IHg9JzUwJScgeT0nNTAlJyBmaWxsPSd3aGl0ZScgZm9udC13ZWlnaHQ9J2JvbGQnIGZvbnQtZmFtaWx5PSdBcmlhbCcgZm9udC1zaXplPSczMDAlJyBkb21pbmFudC1iYXNlbGluZT0nY2VudHJhbCcgdGV4dC1hbmNob3I9J21pZGRsZSc+WzwvdGV4dD4KCQkJPC9zdmc+CgkJ "[The Leader]")
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