Global Marijuana March 2010

The following is taken from the Green Party of Canada policy document 'Vision Green'. I've posted this because on Saturday the 12th of May it's the Toronto Global Marijuana March. Toronto Centre Federal Green Party Candidate Ellen Michelson will be speaking at the event.  I hope you will join us, and consider supporting the Green Party in the next election if you, like me, would prefer legal weed.

Our Vision

After analyzing the recommendation of the Canadian Senate’s 2002 Special Committee on Drugs and the examples of strategies used by some European countries, the Green Party of Canada has come to the conclusion that it is time to legalize the adult use of marijuana. Furthermore, the Greens believe that drug addictions should be treated as a health problem, more than a criminal offence.

Green Solutions

Green Party MPs will:

• Legalize marijuana by removing marijuana from the drug schedule.
• Create a regulatory framework for the safe production of marijuana by small, independent growers.
• Develop a taxation rate for marijuana similar to that of tobacco.
• Establish the sale of marijuana to adults for medicinal or personal use through licensed distribution outlets.
• Educate the public about the health threats of marijuana and tobacco use.
• Launch a public consultation on the decriminalization of illicit drugs, considering the current high costs of the law enforcement effort, as well as on treatment facilities and addict rehabilitation, and consider shifting to prevention through educational programs instead.