The NDP: Out of the frying pan and into the fire

Some interesting remarks were made in the legislature on Nov.23, 2006.

Ms. Draude: — Mr. Speaker, the NDP went to great lengths to ensure that you can’t smoke a cigarette in a café in Saskatchewan. Yet the federal leader of the NDP Party says you should be able to smoke a joint in a café.

Mr. Speaker, does the Premier support this leader? To the Premier: should you be able to smoke up in a Saskatchewan café where other people including children may be present and harmed by second-hand smoke?

I would invite Ms. Draude to read the resolution that was passed by the NDP. It reads as follows:

WHEREAS cannabis has a long history of social, religious and medicinal use in a wide variety of cultures around the world;

WHEREAS government figures estimate 3 million Canadians or 14% of Canada's population are current cannabis users, and about 45% of Canadians have used cannabis during their lifetime, and that virtually all these people are otherwise law-abiding citizens;

WHEREAS numerous public opinion polls conducted since 2000 show that most Canadians support eliminating criminal penalties for cannabis;

WHEREAS the value of the Canadian cannabis industry is estimated at between 5 and 20 billion dollars, and that if taxed and regulated this industry would generate substantial revenues for provincial and court time and resources,

WHEREAS the two major Canadian studies into the effects of cannabis and cannabis law, the 1971 LeDain Commission and the 2002 Canadian Senate Report, both recommended removing punishment for personal cultivation and possession, with the Senate report also recommending that cannabis should be regulated and made legally available to adults,

WHEREAS Canada's federal NDP advocates for non-punitive cannabis legislation, and in February 2006, the BC NDP passed a resolution showing their support for non-punitive marijuana laws,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Saskatchewan NDP support the Federal NDP's call for a non-punitive approach to cannabis law, including elimination of all penalties for personal cultivation and possession by adults, and actively work to institute non-punitive cannabis policies at the provincial level.

I read the resolution a few times. I did not see any mention of allowing cannabis cafes or smoking in public. The resolution merely acknowledges the futility of the prohibition of cannabis.

I think I better write a letter to both Ms. Draude, for her ill-informed remarks. And to Mr. Addley for the weak ineffectual response to Ms. Draude's ill-informed remarks. I'll post them if I get around to writing them.


Hat tip SKMP