Conservatives target dealers of synthetic drugs

Ottawa says it will crack down on synthetic-drug production by squeezing organized crime, limiting imports of selected chemical components and pouring resources into drug prevention. Herb Luft reports.

CTV News Channel: Peter Van Loan, public safety minister

The police now have new tools to battle gangs and organized crime, with an initiative against synthetic drugs like ecstasy and methamphetamine that targets the components used to make the drugs.

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Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan speaks during a press conference in Montreal, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009.

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Tue. Aug. 25 2009 5:03 PM ET

The Conservatives announced new tough-on-crime legislation on Tuesday that is intended to crack down on the production of synthetic drugs such as ecstasy and methamphetamine.

Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan and Justice Minister Rob Nicholson announced in Ottawa a three-part strategy that includes the following measures:

Boosting the RCMP's ability to prevent drugs from entering the country or being manufactured here, and to share information with other nations about "transnational targets."
Strengthening of regulations for the purchase of raw materials that can be used to make synthetic drugs.
Toughening of sentences for drug crimes that endanger communities, children or those who live near drug houses.

"Mandatory sentences would be included when the production of the drug constitutes a potential security, health or safety hazard," Nicholson said.

"For example, if children were in the location where the offence was committed or in the immediate area, or the production constituted a potential public safety hazard to a residential area or the accused placed or set a trap."

When pressed on what was new about the announcement, Van Loan called it a "refocusing of resources" from other areas, specifically to the fight against synthetic drugs.

He said some new money will be going to the initiative from the National Anti Drug Program, but said mostly it will mean bringing key law enforcement groups together to tackle synthetic drugs together -- "organizing against the organized criminals," he said.

Nicholson said it is vital that MPs, and the opposition in particular, pass the new legislation in the fall when Parliament resumes.

"Having this legislation passed as quickly as possible would better protect out communities and send a very clear message that if you are into the business of producing and trafficking drugs, if you run grow ops and meth labs in our neighbourhoods, if you threaten the safety of Canada's communities, you will be looking at serving jail time," Nicholson said.

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ljm
said
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I can't help but reply to all those posters who support legalization of marijuana and/or variou other drugs. I had the misfortune of growing up in a home where both parents were pot smokers and where on parent eventually went on to harder drugs. This is where the family money was spent, both my parents were unmotivated, not to mention how horribly embarassed and ashamed I was to have parents like this. People in their drug circle, often went on to use other hard drugs with horrendous imact to their families. Pot is a gateway drug, it introduces users to a drug culture. When you purchase pot, you purchase part of the drug culture - drug cartels, gangs, the other industries these people are involved in (i.e. human trafficking, prostitution, etc.).
I am not normally a supporter of the conservative agenda, however on this issue I fully support anything the government can do to keep people off drugs prevent those who would try to produce or sell them.

BILL C-15 - Reannouncement
said
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Bill C-15 is the Gift to Gang/Organized Crime Bill. It adds mandatory minimum sentences for all drug offenses including marijuana. It makes our Police the JUDGE which just like in the USA will FILL prisons (i.e. US is 10X larger than Canada and has 2.2 millions in prison, Canada presently has 35,000). And for what, as any informed person knows and ALL experts at the Committee on Bill C-15 testified that it would be a complete and utter FAILURE just like in the USA. That didn;t stop our Justice or Saftey Minister who CHOOSE TO BE IGNORANT. It will deter individuals and allow gangs to move right in just like in the USA where their gang problems makes ours look like the BOY SCOUTS. But the Conservatives know this, this is not about protecting youth, its about politics, Tough on Crime sells yet Tough on Crime is a MYTH. If it worked the USA would be the safest country of them all but it is perhaps the worst (i.e. 17,000 murders last year in the USA, over 11,000 using guns, Canada only had about 600 murders, the year Canada busted the most meth labs 40 of them, the USA busted 17,700 meth labs and 60X the cops get killed. There NUMBER ONE cash crop in the USA is domestically grown marijuana. BILL C-15 is going to be the biggest disaster ever in Canada. Its going to lock up all the kids, YOUR kids for marijuana (and what damaged goods they will be when they get out).

William
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Speaking as a former drug user I am 100 % behind the Conservatives when it comes to coming down hard and I mean HARD on these people who make and sell these syntheitic drugs. That's right folks you heard me .. they almost killed me and I owe my life to a police officer and a judge who got me into a drug rehab program and now NA 12 steps .. I owe them so very much I can't describe it. My life is so much different now and so are my ideas and thinking clearly is a joy - now that I can think clearly I am definitely voting Conservative - way to go Harper keep uop the good work!

Tono
said
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Good move.
Synthetic drugs have torn The Netherlands apart. In a country like Canada, where the land area is huge and the population density is low, targetting drug manufacturers and runners should not be forgotten.

Mitch
said
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Note to CPC:
If you advocate legalization of marijuana you might secure under-50 votes in Vancouver (that would normally go to other parties). Targeting synthetic drugs might be a smart campaign move. Interesting, considering the very strong variation in Canadian regional demographics - tough challenge you guys have.

Steve
said
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This may be a step forwarded if pasted. However, it's just more smoke and policial hoopla. They all need to take a hard look at what they've done for Canadians in general. Everything is costing us more and getting less including what's actually coming out of Ottawa. Accountability is still a missing link.

EDP
said
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I agree with any legislation that stiffen ups our extremely lax position on crime in this country. The sad reality is that the legislation in this country is tough enough and always has been. Its the judicial element of our legal system that fails Canadians. Judges need to start breaking out of the standard weak sentencing practices which are now the status quo. The current statues allow judges to sentence criminals to much harsher punishments than they are currently receiving.
If Canadian judges and crowns started seeking and supporting harsher penalties already in the book it would have a significant impact on crime / drug related offences.
Currently the maximum punishment for dealing drugs (possession for the purpose of trafficking) is 3 years, 10 years, or life, depending on the type of drug being trafficked.
However the judges never give anything close to the maximum. They rarely sentence jail time in the best of circumstances and that is usually time already served while the dealer was awaiting trial.
Get tough on crime??? I think the real focus should be: get tough on Judges' sentencing.
Food for thought: Approximately 80% of criminal charges are plead away without ever seeing a trial.

Chris - Winnipeg
said
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Trust me, as someone who knows the street very well, there is no stopping the drug trade.

As long as there is a demand, there will always be a supply.

Chew on that Conservatives.

Albertaboy111
said
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"If you don't want our culture saturated in drugs then vote for the Conservatives."

Your right. The method the conservatives have been using for the last 80 years or so have worked well. Drug use has gone down continuously every time they get into power. Its like clockwork..... wait a minute... it not one thing they have done in 80 years has made a lick of difference to reverse or even slow drugs in our society. Maybe it�s time to try a different approach. Or should we wait another 80 years just to see. It could just take 160 to fully work.

Albertaboy111
said
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Finally this government actually going after real problem drugs. Something tells me they found a way to sneak in something to go after marijuana users. I bet they somehow managed to re-label it a synthetic drug. I hope not but with these guys there is always a smoke screen. I say loosen restrictions on natural plants and go after these guys making drugs that truly hurt society.

Kevin in Alberta
said
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Looks like lot's of pill poppers and dope smokers commenting on this one today. Or I mean liberal bloggers and NDP protestors.

MikeLondon
said
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Like the war on drugs in the US, this ultimitly will fail. While well intentioned and good in some ways, legalizing pot and selling it thorough government liquor stores is the way to go. It's all over the place, and in the hands of organized crime. Hard drugs like Meth, Crack, and so on, should remain illegal. An emphasis on rehabilitation would also be a good idea, with the revenue from pot sales to pay for it.

MaryJane Cannabian
said
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The Conservatives are pushing Mandatory Minimum Sentencing so they can trumpet "We're tough on crime!"

When people hear the word "crime", they are most probably thinking of murder, rape, armed robbery.... not someone sparking a joint in the privacy of their own homes.

Will Bill C-15 kill the twin scourge of illegal drugs and gang violence?
Libby Davies, NDP MP, Vancouver East answers on Straight.com:

�There�s a lot of information, both in the United States and in Canada, that shows that mandatory minimum sentencing regimes for drug offenses are ineffective. This is all about window-dressing for the Conservatives� crime agenda. They want to impress people with their tough-on-crime approach. One thing that will happen is that it could very much overcrowd our prisons. We find the bill to be misdirected and based on a very faulty premise. It�s based on the U.S.�s war on drugs, which has been a complete failure.�

http://bit.ly/15enP9

darknetz
said
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While Bill C-15 purports to target "serious" drug offences, its terms apply to even very minor offences such as growing a single marijuana plant. This helps no one in our society.
Increasing the risk (harsher sentences) associated with a behaviour (drug crime) only prevents that behaviour so long as the benefit (profit) stays the same. In the case of drug sales, harsher sentencing may increase the street price and therefore the profit of dealing drugs. This phenomenon of prohibition guarantees that the supply of individuals who will commit these crimes is virtually unlimited.

darknetz
said
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Currently, marijuana offences comprise more than three-quarters of all drug crimes. This drains police resources that are better spent elsewhere. Under a regulated market, police would have resources freed up to investigate violent crimes and property offences. This benefits us all. Bill C-15 does nothing to address this problem. Indeed, it makes it worse.
Passing C-15 would be costly and dangerous to Canadians and Canadian society. There is no research or experience that demonstrates this legislation will do anything else. I urge you to prevent the passage of this bill by whatever means possible. Don't endanger Canadians. Don't vote for C-15.

darknetz
said
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Bill C-15 is a dangerous and radical change in Canadian drug policy that will further enrich gangsters, create more violence on our streets and assuredly fail to reduce either the demand for, or the availability of, drugs in our society.
This statement may seem bold. But it is backed by the preponderance of available science. Comprehensive studies published by the Senate of Canada, the Canadian Department of Justice, the European Commission, the US Congressional Research Service, the Fraser Institute, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Rand Corporation all support the view that mandatory minimum sentencing for drug offences are useless at best. At worst, these policies will increase the dangers associated with the drug markets and, therefore, the chaos created on our streets.
The types of mandatory sentences contained in Bill C-15 have been utter failures in the United States. There is no evidence that harsher penalties affect drug use rates or the supply of drugs on the streets. Nor do such sentences appear to deter prohibition-related violence. Instead of seeing success from its mandatory sentencing policies, the United States has become the world's largest jailer with 1 in every 99 adults is in custody. The United States has 5% of the worlds population and 25% of the world's prisoners. Many of those persons are serving time for non-violent drug offences. Bottom line: the United States has some of the harshest sentencing regimes in the non-totalitarian world while also suffering from the highest rates of drug use, the highest violent crime rates and the richest, most powerful gangs. Instead of serving a positive purpose, Bill C-15 will increase the power of organized crime and the violence associated with the illegal drug markets.

Bill in London
said
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About time they start cracking down on the dangerous drugs. Why waste tax dollars busting pot heads who are harmless. They need crack down on the drugs that are connected to dangerous criminal acts

Bee
said
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Why not just get rid of judges altogether since the government is taking away all their powers anyway.

Raymond
said
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Interesting the number of MJ advocates on this thread.

My experience has shown that the laziest, most unproductive, unmotivated, oppositional-defiant, problem-plagued employees I've had the pleasure of dismissing had one thing in common.

Marijuana use.

james
said
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thats good

WIll Losse
said
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The conservatives endlessly flirt with the failed American justice model. First off, putting a dance drug like Ecstasy in the same category as Methamphetamine is ridiculous.

And while this government does everything it can to crush progressive treatment programs (insite ect) it strives to start throwing people in prison with mandatory minimums.
- (why pay judges then?).
- (who is going to pay for all the new prisons?)

Looks like they're searching for a way to bring in some form of 3 strike legislation
(because that worked sooo well in the states).

Wake up Conservatives, we are not Americans.

Ben
said
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I smoked a joint with a cop once :)

Cops always tell me the same thing, its not the weed they care about in itself, its about the people (gangs) you support when doing it, solution? legalize it! then you'll be supporting the many farmers looking for work!

my take on this
said
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Sounds like the republicans, oops, I mean conservatives want to get tough on drug crime again.

Is the GOP north allowed to take "donations" from the GOP south?

I wonder, where does the Conservative Party of Canada get all that money?

Kris
said
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there is a proper way to handle drugs. Whether people want to admit it or not, the first step in dealing with the "drug issue" is recognizing that addiction isn't a sickness, it's not a disease, or an illness it is a result of a combination of poor decisions, a lack of external positive influence, and a drug that is physically/chemically addictive. Whether you believe it or not, if addiction was a sickness, a mental illness, then addicts would have to be arrested as they pose terrible threats to themselves and others as a result of their "illness" at least arrested and brought to hospital for observation as would be the case with any suicidal person under section 28 of the mental health act. The factors above are easy to see, there are lots of recreational coke users who aren't addicts for example. Employed and well paid people who don't rapidly slide into addiction.
Addictive drugs, drugs that have been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to be addictive, should be illegal, if it is not proven to be addictive it should not be illegal. If it is not addictive and is not a prescription drug currently it is likely a drug that is harvested, and the harvest should be controlled by a regulatory body, that issues licenses and standards, and those who harvest the crops in question pay for the right to grow said crops. They would have to declare their distributors, distributors who would have to be approved by the aforementioned governing body. All other drugs would warrant a minimum mandatory sentence. I am willing to bet that it would still be just as easy to arrest folks for illegally distributing pot without a license.

Marilyn
said
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More rhetoric and another media op from the Minister of Public Safety to justify he is actually doing something to protect our communities. He must think we're all stupid if "refocusing our resources" is his answer to drug crime and the basis of this new anti-drug legislation!

Instead of trying to close Insite and deny safe injection sites, he should separate his bias against drug addicts from his fight against organized crime. They are two separate issues. There is always hope for any chronic addict if offered residential treatment and ongoing support, however treatment is denied in jail and illicit drugs are still available.

Drug courts, with a treatment option have drastically reduced addiction to stimulants in California, but here in BC it takes me, as an outreach worker (and former crack addict), six months to get someone into just a 28 day program, which ultimately sets the addict up for failure if there is no support or transition home available afterwards.

We don't have a homeless problem in this country...we have an addiction problem...and incarcerating addicts will never fix them. Addiction is an illness and should be funded as a health problem, but with all the fiscal cuts here, people are being denied treatment and care. If you doubt it, check out some scholarly studies from around the world. You can't get well without a bed to get well in, and we should remember that when dealing with the homeless addict.

ARJAY
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@Doug

I agree with most of what you say Doug. The war on drugs has been a failure, and I have no problem sending drug dealers and manufacturers to jail.

The problem is, however, that the "tough" approach to the drug issue doesn't work. It's been tried with alcohol during the prohibition era in the States, and it's failed as well with regard to marijuana both here and in America.

The problem is that it's a matter of pure free market capitalism. Every time we bust a dealer or producer, the supply drops, so the price goes up. And that brings more dealers and producers into the market.

And Aa long as we make drugs illegal and prohibit their use, then only criminals have any say in who drugs are sold to, and how pure they are.

If we really want to protect kids from pushers, we'd take the power to make drugs out of their hands. We can't do that by putting them in jail- new ones take their place. If we legalize drugs for adults, and produce and sell them at cost, we'd drive the black market out of business.

Drugs would be available for adult use, and it would be more difficult for kids to get them (though not impossible- that'll never happen.)

But we'd reduce the incidents of bad drugs causing death, and we'd control where and to whom drugs could be sold.

We haven't eliminated the problems asociated with alcohol use (and alcohol is a drug) and we never will. But society as a whole is better off without prohibition- of any kind.

But the Conservative "get tough" approach is more political than rational. This legislation will only make more profits for drug dealers, and the problems will only grow worse.

Truth on Addiction
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Minister Van Loan MISLEADS Canadians when he makes statement such as "Young people in particular are vulnerable to trying the drugs and becoming addicted". The truth is that ADDICTS are programmed as children and the substance abuse (the addiction) is a symptom.
All addicts LET themselves get addicted (subconsciously). and ONLY about 10 to 15% of us will ever become addicts and the rest of us never will. We will be much better off when we start to tell the TRUTH on addictions instead of the LIE that "Its the drug", the real cop out, a ready made accuse for bad parenting. The problem is the people. Addiction is a part of human nature.

John
said
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MDMA should be legalized for psychotherapy under strict government regulations as it was intended and administered by professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists) - same goes for LSD and all other psychedelics.

Great potential for healing.

What is the TRUTH ?
said
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I have nothing against controlling precursors. But the Meth is really a TOOL of FEAR by the Government of Canada and the RCMP. Last year in Canada, 15 meth labs were busted, in the USA with their very Tough on Crime, OVER 6000 meth labs were busted. Yes we have 1000s of pot grows but a few meth labs (i.e. the chance of one next dooe to you is NIL). Let's keep perspective instead of using fear as a tool. Fear only helps those who spread it.

daryn
said
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Instead of throwing people in jail that we have to pay for, why not use the money, and give these people what they need. They need shelter, they need food, they need entertainment, they need to feel welcome into the community.

Just like Somalia, They have no money no food, very poor shelter. so what do they do? take it through piracy. We need to fix the problems not just ignore and put people in jail.

Wally Manitoba
said
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I can see that some of the druggies are responding the this article. In spite of their drug addiction they are still able to employ manipulation and intimidation against the Conservative anti drug party. If you want drugs vote for the NDP/Marijuana party. If you want to do absulutely nothing but get into power so you can combine with the NDP and the BLOC Quebecois then vote for the Liberals. If you don't want our culture saturated in drugs then vote for the Conservatives.

ryan
said
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The proper way to combat drugs is to hit the labs and suppliers hard. Change the risk vs reward; high minimum sentences and assets confiscation is a great start.

Addicts and users should be treated as sick and not criminals. Mandatory rehabilitation vs jail. The US experiment with criminalizing the user failed.

The US experiment with hitting the suppliers and labs has worked very well. Which is why Canada with its soft laws is now exporting most of the world�s synthetic drugs.

Russell Barth
said
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These drugs should be legal, made by commercial companies, and sold in pharmacies. it is a myth that these drugs are more dangerous than alcohol. booze kills, addicts, and maims more people than meth or x.

also, it should be noted that one of the largest importers of precursor chemicals is the canadian government...

James
said
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I really like the stance the Conservative government is taking on synthetic drugs and the production and trafficking of narcotics.

Smoking marijuana is bad enough and sets a poor example for our youth. Production of harder drugs has to be dealt with harshly within our justice system. It can affect so many people when we already have enough problems.

Kevin in Ottawa
said
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Ecstasy and rohypnol are two different drugs, Mal. R>C>P.

Ry in the Hammer
said
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Minister Van Loan said "Having this legislation passed as quickly as possible would better protect our communities..."

Um... can you quantify this statement a bit further with facts. I would like you to tangibly show me, unequivocally, that the minute this legislation is passed my community is going to be protected.

Does this funding provide treatment for drug users, increase the RCMP's presence in Ontario or Qu�bec (which don't use the RCMP as a provincial police force), random home inspections near schools, etc.

What exactly, other than a waste of ten minutes and thousands of tax payers dollars, does this announcement constitute other than pure placation to your grassroots and a re-announcement of commitments already made?

How about a little less press time with customized signs at taxpayers expense and more focus on the real issues affecting Canadians (e.g. increasing unemployment, companies going bankrupt, a disorganized health care system, regulation of securities from fraudulent investors).

RSMTL
said
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Typical conservative wedge issue to distract the public. "We are going to get tough on crime!! Ra! Ra!" The War on Drugs has been the biggest failure in the history of government law enforcement. We have spent billions on a losing effort and the government now plans to throw more good money after bad. It has fostered a huge underground economy and expanded the reach of organized crime. It has failed because we have been attacking the supply side while doing nothing to curb demand. The best way to tackle this problem is to legalize all non-synthetic organic drugs like marijuana, tax their use and use the proceeds to educate the public about the dangers of drug use. This is exactly what we have done with cigarettes and look at how demand for this product has decreased over time. It's worth a try because the old conservative way has not worked.

Nick in Ottwa
said
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Everyone who wants to learn more about the failed "war on drugs" Should give "In Pot We Trust" and "Grass" a view. Two of the best, most articulate and well developed documentaries on the subject. It is quite an eye opener...

trevor
said
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I will never vote for the conservative party. I don't like how the party does things. Less of uncle sam is better. But I think uncle sam should look into other types of crime also. And they should reduce all the taxes. In the coming election, I hope the ndp becomes uncle sam. Yes for the ndp, and no to the conservatives. There are other types of crimes besides drugs, that the feds should look into. Things in the nation are expensive. The feds should lower the price of many things. Thats my opinion lol.

Nick in Ottwa
said
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Time to legalize marijuana and focus our efforts and tax dollars on the drugs that do real damage. And for those die-hard conservatives or religious nuts who say I'm wrong... Look at the model used in The Netherlands. It works, as long as it's done right...

Cheers.

Derek Snider
said
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The last thing this country needs is an American style drug war. We already have adopted too many of their foolhardy tactics which have only served to exasperate the problem.

The desire to change one's consciousness is a natural drive common to us all. Hence the popularity of recreational activities, sports and leisure, as well as use of substances including alcohol and nicotine products.

To keep some drugs legal (alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, theobromine, theophylline, etc ) and criminalize others (cannabis, MDMA, psilocybin, mescaline, opium, cocaine, etc) is nearly as ridiculous as keeping activities such as golf, yachting and opera legal, but criminalizing dancing, skateboarding, scuba diving and bingo.

Criminalizing victimless human behavior only results in creating criminals.

Dylan Michalenko, Concerned Citizen
said
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Once again Peter Van Loan is after your civil liberties. For someone who is in charge of Public Safety he has been behind some of the darkest ideas presented as laws Canada has ever seen. Mandatory minimums for drug criminals is a joke. How bout mandatory minimums for corrupt politicians or business people? Who squander riches from public coffers and then declare bankruptcy (a Montreal Investor Earl Jones stole 50 million from 150 clients and has declared bankruptcy) How about mandatory minimums for sex criminals? (as stated on government forum on corrections research the average sex criminal spends less than 2 years in a provincial facility) But mandatory minimums for pot heads (Bill C-15) would encourage incarceration for a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 years for minor pot possession over 5 grams. Please i think you can see who does more damage to the community. How bout Mr. Van Loan's last point of attack - the internet and your cell phone - was initiated by Bill C-47. He is currently trying to pass a law to allow our government to spy on your text messages, instant messages & emails for a period of time (21 days) before the police need to get a warrant>?

I will not live in a police state! This is not my Canada! Wake up!

Dylan, Vancouver
said
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Didn't the US once experiment with prohibition? I can't remember, did it reduce crime?

Jesse Supina
said
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Marijuana has less negative behavioural effects, and less negative health consequences, than alcohol. Alcohol is legal. Why don�t we make marijuana legal, tax it, and then redirect the savings that law enforcement will realize from not having to enforce the marijuana laws, along with the new tax revenue stream, toward enforcing effective policies to reduce the dependence of people on hard drugs. The hard drugs are the ones that actually do ruin a lot of lives all by themselves; most of the lives ruined by marijuana are brought to ruin mainly because of the ill-conceived morality policing that passes itself off as our current drug laws, while the use of the drug itself is harmless in more cases than alcohol is, and actually quite often provides an improvement in quality of life to the user.

Joe C
said
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These kinds of things have no place on Canadian streets, and so I would support this legislation 100%.

MDMA
said
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I truly feel sorry for those who have never tried MDMA. So much bad and false 'research' on it. I dont in any way condone any other drug use or drug abuse but MDMA is in some ways life changing.

Meth is terrible and should be targeted as is Ecstasy which is cut with many harmful chemicals. (MDMA is not Ecstasy).

Ive tried MDMA a few times in my early 20s and I still went on to be very successful and live a professional life.

Kris D.
said
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The 'War on Drugs' has been going on for decades and governments everywhere are losing. Every year there are more drugs in more communities. There will always be a market for it therefore there will always be producers.

Perhaps it's time to try something new?

Or maybe we could just dump all those billions of dollars we waste every year fighting this futile war down a big old hole. It'd be a more efficient way to waste all that money.

Smith
said
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Legalize Marijuana and TAX it at 25%.

Use the new cash to fund healthcare, and policing of bad drugs.

The savings in both time and money would give our country a much needed lift.

Jay, Ottawa
said
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Doug in BC said, "Or not?? Does anyone really know? After an 80 year war on drugs,I suspect not.But I do know that giving up is not an option.Nor is another 80 years of doing the same thing."

I've wondered the same things Doug. Tougher rules counter-intuitively seem to increase drug usage, which results in tighter rules and tougher sentencing, which again strangely increases drug use. You're right, we can't give up, but the US approach hasn't worked.

If you hit Google and search for "Dan Gardner British System" he gives a nice overview of different approaches used around the world, their results and the history that got us to where we are now.

Jimmy from the Valley
said
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LOL!!!

These same politicians were smoking up and dropping acid in the 60's...what a joke!

Simple: Ciggies, Alcohol, Pot and Hashish become legal drugs heavily regulated by the Provinces.

Allow farmers who are losing their shirts growing corn and alfalfa to grow weed. Hence increasing their income.

Keep blow, heroine, meth, E and all other "hard" drugs as illegal.

I bet if the majority of Canadians TRUTHFULLY came out, there would be more dope smokers than you think...and from all walks of life.

I have seen Doctors and lawyers on fishing outings smoking up with the construction workers and salespeople. Even a teacher and a probation officer!

MAL of TO
said
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That first comment should be removed. Ecstasy is a RAPE drug first and foremost and any lighthearted comment is inappropriate and disgusting.

Mandatory sentences for manufacturers as well as new laws for those using minors to do the physical selling should be enacted, or just juice up the corruption of a minor with a nice 10 year minimum.

Hair of the Dog
said
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Nice Public Relations Minister. "Refocusing of resources"... :) That should give you a few good photo opp and press releases down the road. Getting this stuff off the street is a good plan. Yet, taxpayers will never know if it is truly successful. All of the agencies under your department have a way of manipulating facts. They have you do PR on their behalf. But, none will allow you to change their ways. The little we know of what is going on at CSIS, RCMP, CSC or CBSA should have you making more important announcements. Canadians are wondering if you forgot all about "accountability".

Grr
said
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Throw the book at them, automatic 20 year sentence.

Build a prison in the north for these people where the weather is harsh, have them grow their own crops the same way the famous sherrif in the states does.

He has them wearing pink underwear, sleep in tents and only 2 TV channels. Disney and a religion channel.

I know that would give me a good incentive to not resort to crime.

Doug in BC
said
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If I had to go into a polling booth on election day and cast a vote based solely on this issue of drugs,I'd be lost as to who to vote for.While I'm not an advocat for legalizing drugs of any kind,I totally disagree with this governments views regarding marijuana.But of course,the Liberals have been promising to either legalize or decriminalize it since the 1960's.So their credibility on pot is as close to zero as it could be.
What I am sick and tired of is seeing kids ingesting highly addictive and destructive chemicals,and the gangs wars on our streets.Look south to Mexico and as yourslef how we can avoid going down that road.While conceding that our "war on drugs" has been a failure,I take no issue with very stiff sentences for those who peddle this crpa to our kids.I doubt it will be the final resolution to the problem,but it will save a few lives,and could help some until someone comes up with better ideas.
I've long thought that coming down hard on those who peddle chemicals and hard drugs,and,at the same time,lightening up on those who smoke an occassional joint is the way to go.Why take a chance on a lengthy jail term for chrystal meth if you can get off scott free with a joint? We really don't want our kids doing ANY drugs.But if they must,at least they could choose the least destructive,and the one with the fewest consequences.
Or not?? Does anyone really know? After an 80 year war on drugs,I suspect not.But I do know that giving up is not an option.Nor is another 80 years of doing the same thing.

Kevin in Alberta
said
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Thank you. We need to get tuff on criminals. I guess the liberals won't support this. Since they need the criminal voters.

Tomko
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Watch the NDP, and Liberal's "social being" fight this one.
Really this "Socially Just" approach of these opposition parties, to these things have this Country in the state it is..........

MikeinBC
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I'm happy to see that they are getting tougher on the druggies....Now I wonder what the judges will do with the new sentencing power they will have.

MikeinBC
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I'm happy to see that they are getting tougher on the druggies....Now I wonder what the judges will do with the new sentencing power they will have.

kelsey
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More tired and failed anti-drug rhetoric from Peter Van Loan.

Hey Peter, wanna stop beating a dead horse to increase your polling numbers and actually do something productive to help stop drug abuse? You know, by stop trying to close facilities like Insite that actually help to deter drug addiction?

Dean
said
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Unless the gov't is prepared to actually put drug makers, sellers, growers etc, in jail for at least 20 years, it will be a waste of time. Anyone can say they will be tough on crime but actually doing it speaks louder than the hollow promises that are always what happens. Our criminal justice system is just what it says. There is only justice for the criminals and not the public. How many hoops do the law enforcement people have to jump through just to search or arrest someone who is clearly involved in criminal activity be it gangs or otherwise. It really has become a joke ever since we got our new constitution. Thank-you Pierre Trudeau. Nothing has been the same since because we dare not step on anyone's toes in case we offend them. We are turning into an international joke with our overly politicized correctness and our penchant for not wanting to offend anyone.

David
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This'll be easily passed in the fall session, provided the Tories don't fall before it can be tabled. I can't see Iggy wanting to be seen as obstructing this legislation.

James Mecham
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It appears that the minister hasn't read "The Globalization of Addiction" by Professor Bruce Alexander to understand the true causes of addiction. Of course the Conservatives, by definition are not current and enjoy the past, archaic views on drugs.
James Mecham

saul
said
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The best thing is this:when arresting a drug sellers especially those with small amount whom are the suplyers and consumers provicers. dont put in jails and dont waste our taxes but
put them in a place and offer them food and care and take them from 7am to 6pm for work until they earn 3time more for the mount of drugs they had or own. and use the money to rehab the addicted peoples with that money.
this is the perfect idea if you need real words ...

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