From: LVNORML420@aol.com (unknown)
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: NORML WPR
Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2000 22:18:20 EDT
NORML WPR
NORML Foundation
1001 Connecticut Ave., NW
Ste. 710
Washington, DC 20036
202-483-8751 (p)
202-483-0057 (f)
www.norml.org
foundation@norml.org
October 5, 2000
Canadian Government Will Legalize Medical Use
Ottawa, Ontario: The Canadian government last Friday decided not to
appeal a July 31st Ontario Court of Appeals decision that declared
Canada's prohibition of marijuana "unconstitutional" and said that if
Parliament did not amend the law to allow for medical use within a year,
marijuana possession in Ontario (for any purpose) would be legal.
Two weeks ago, Canadian Health Minister Allan Rock announced he would
change regulations to allow patients access to marijuana. Until the new
regulations are approved Canadians can continue to apply for a medical
exemption under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. To
date, 71 Canadians are allowed to legally smoke marijuana.
"We want to bring greater clarity to the process for those Canadians who
may request the use of this drug to alleviate symptoms," Rock said. "We
want to do so in recognition of a need for a more defined process for
those in pain and suffering."
"Progress towards legalizing marijuana in Canada is bound to have a
positive impact on U.S. policy," said Keith Stroup, NORML Executive
Director. "It is impossible for the U.S. to ignore the positive changes
occurring with our neighbors to the north."
For more information, please contact Keith Stroup, NORML Executive
Director at (202) 483-5500.
Swiss To Decriminalize Marijuana Possession
Berne, Switzerland: The Swiss government, on Monday, announced its
intention to decriminalize the use and possession of marijuana. The
government said it would draw up legislation to allow for marijuana
consumption in the next year.
The Swiss government took this action after hearing widespread support
from law enforcement agencies and community associations, despite some
concerns about possible "drug tourism."
"Two-thirds of the organizations consulted said they were in favor of
this move," said Interior Minister Ruth Dreifuss.
Dreifuss said the Swiss government will establish a special commission
on marijuana policy to seek advice on such issues as a minimum age to
smoke marijuana (16 or 18 years old) and drug abuse prevention issues.
No decision has been made as to whether the cultivation or sale of
marijuana will be accepted, but Dreifuss said if growers respected some
restrictions, their activities "could be tolerated, even though still
punishable by law."
"Switzerland's proposed marijuana policy sounds very similar to the
25-year policy in the Netherlands," said Allen St. Pierre, NORML
Foundation Executive Director. "It is time for the U.S. government to
stop bucking the worldwide trend of marijuana law reform. It's a mystery
why the U.S. is recalcitrant in examining the utility of marijuana
prohibition, while Europe and Canada more toward measured and sensible
law reform."
For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Foundation
Executive Director at (202) 483-8751.
VoteHemp.com Releases Hemp Friendly Voter Guide
Oak Bluff, MA: VoteHemp.com this week published a voter guide
publicizing the positions of all federal candidates running for the House
of Representatives, the Senate and the Presidency on the subject of
deregulating industrial hemp agriculture in America.
VoteHemp.com is distributing its voter guide through hemp and natural
food retailers, their state coordinators and at universities. The
organization is also encouraging people to "Steal This Voter Guide" by
visiting www.votehemp.com and printing it out online.
"We have been promoting voter registration around this issue all
spring," said Eric Steenstra, chairman of non-profit VoteHemp, Inc.
"There is a powerful voting block out there that cares about considering
the environment and creating a sustainable economy."
For more information, please contact Lloyd Hart, National Coordinator of
the VoteHemp campaign at (508) 693-5992 or visit www.votehemp.com.
Marijuana Use Drops Among Dutch Youth
Amsterdam, The Netherlands: According to a national survey of risk
behavior among Dutch youth aged 10-18, marijuana use is on the decline
for the first time in 16 years.
The survey, published every four years by the Netherlands Institute for
Mental Health and Addiction, showed that 20 percent in that age group had
used marijuana at least once, but less than 10 percent had smoked
marijuana in the previous month. Among the youth who had smoked marijuana
within the past month, a third said they had smoked two or more times a
week. The survey also found that a third of the youthful marijuana
smokers bought the marijuana from "coffee shops" which openly sell
marijuana.
"While NORML discourages adolescent marijuana use, the 'Dutch model' of
quasi-legalization appears to succeed in two areas where the U.S. policy
fails miserably: per capita, fewer adolescents use marijuana in the
Netherlands then in the U.S.; and the separation of marijuana from the
distribution channels for 'hard' drugs such as cocaine, heroin or LSD."
For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Foundation
Executive Director at (202) 483-8751. To view the study, please visit
http://www.trimbos.nl/indexuk.html
-End-
Las Vegas NORML
P.O. Box 34473
Las Vegas, NV 89133
Ph: (702) 380-7869
www.lvnorml.com
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