Pot is helping cancer patients

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SALEM, Ore. CAP) – Three puffs of marijuana – “that miserable roll-your-own” – and there was “no more sickness,” says 54-year-old Jean Lovejoy, who
claims marijuana helped her fight the side-effects of cancer treatment. “My husband rolled my first joint and I took three puffs. It was incredible.” Mrs. Lovejoy of Grants Pass told a legislative committee. “It was amazing.” she said. The illegal weed soothed the severe nausea caused by chemotherapy and enabled her to regain some strength, she said.

Marijuana ‘criminals’ wait for election
Agreement of all political parties is a rare and welcome thing. Now all federal party leaders are on record as being in of removal of criminal records for possession of marijuana. For months before dissolution of Parliament, the Commons justice committee worked on a long-awaited change in the laws which Justice Minister Marc Lalonde said were proceeding “on an urgent basis.” A.D. CHARBONNEAU

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Decriminalization of marijuana not enough

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I agree with the independent member of Parliament from Bow River, Stan Schumacher, that this is not the time to decriminalize marijuana. That should have been done nine years ago as a result of the recommendations of. the Le Dain report. Decriminalization would no longer deal with new problems arising from the international trade of marijuana. Unfortunately, Schumacher’s reasons are not the same. He feels that decriminalization would encourage the use of marijuana (Herald, Feb. 9). According to studies done in the United States in places where decriminalization has taken place, use of marijuana has not significantly increased. A.D. Charbonneau

Pot addiction predicted
TRENTON,Onto (CP)
The director of a residence for treatment of alcoholics says that in 25 to 50 years he might have to open a similar house to handle marijuana addicts. John Fryters, of Serenity House in Belleville. 20 kilometres northeast of here, told a meeting of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union that marijuana should not be legalized because the drug may be addictive.

Marijuana reform likely to wait until after election
OTTAWA (CP)- Justice Minister Marc Lalonde said Wednesday there is little chance the government will move before the next election to ease penalties for marijuana possession. “I’m not optimistic,” Lalonde said when asked whether he will introduce before this spring’s anticipated election legislation that would eliminate possession of marijuana for personal use as a criminal offence.

Calgary tops in drug crime

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By Don Martin
(Herald staff writer) Calgary holds the crown as Canada’s number one city in drug and other federal statute crimes 1977, but is still far below Edmonton which is the urban violent crime capital of the country, according to a Statistics Canada report released Thursday. The city rates near the top in provincial statute crimes, primarily liquor offences, and comes in above the national average in violent crime statistics. Statistics Canada breaks down
criminal laws, into three categories – laws falling within federal jurisdiction such as the Narcotics Act. crimes of violence and laws determined by the province.

Rich nations’ moves to decriminalize cannabis worry the third world    By Thomas Land
(Land is an author and foreign  correspondent who writes on world affairs from European capitals.)
GENEVA – Narcotics law enforcement officials in 17 Asian countries – some of them major producers of drugs flooding the black markets of Western Europe and North America ~ have warned the rich world against undermining their efforts to stem the tide. . Their warning is contained in a report published here in time for the annual conference of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, which is scheduled to conclude
on Feb. 23.

Pot law enforcement inconsistent
(The following is an editorial from The Toronto Star.)
Equality under the law? Not for marijuana smokers.Those caught in a small town in southern Ontario. for example. are likely to be slapped with a hefty fine and a criminal record. even if it’s their first offence: But if you’re picked up smoking a joint on Yonge St., the chances are the judge will dismiss the charge. Inconsistent and often arbitrary enforcement is not only unfair to the two million Canadians who, at one time or another, have tried marijuana. It also makes a mockery of our legal system and the principle of equal justice on which it is founded.