Thoughts on S-10

Thoughts on S-10

***Please note; this is a new writer! On the blogspot page, it says "By Nikki Spliff"; NOT TRUE! Will fix shortly(?) Recognize the author!

Written by Brizban

With the introduction of bill S-10 (actually, first with the introduction of bill C-26, and then again with C-15), the Conservative government of Canada has clearly outlined their vision of Canadian Justice reform: less focus on rehabilitation, more focus on punishment. With the proposed implementation of mandatory minimum prison sentences, discretionary powers are removed from judges and given to politicians and police. Judges will be forced to send people to prison, regardless of their own opinions on the case. The aim is to create an automated justice system. Go directly to jail. Do not pass GO, do not collect two-hundred dollars.

We continue to hear ‘tough on crime’ rhetoric from politicians who claim bill S-10 was drafted to combat organized criminals. However after careful examination of the bill (which is actually named the Penalties for Organized Drug Crime Act), it becomes evident that organized criminals will be the ones who truly benefit.

Bill S-10 seeks to increase the risk for low level drug offenders, particularly small scale cannabis gardeners, by introducing mandatory minimum prison sentences. Under the proposed legislation, growing six plants or more would result in a mandatory prison sentence of nine months. This will effectively deter low level gardeners from growing personal amounts of cannabis, and allow large scale grow-operations to control the market. After all, professional, organized criminals aren’t deterred by the possibility of jail time; average, otherwise law abiding citizens are.

The politicians who created this bill are treating cannabis production as if it is a chemical process, similar to that of methamphetamine production, forgetting that it's a plant which grows naturally all over the world. The simple fact that penalties for growing cannabis are based on plant count, rather than the number of lights used in an indoor garden, exposes the ignorance of the individuals who drafted this bill.

The bill also states that creating cannabis concentrate, such as hash, would hold an even harsher penalty than cannabis production alone (eighteen months!). This is yet another example of the ignorance perpetuated by the war-on-drugs mentality. Cannabis concentrates contain very little plant matter and are therefore much healthier to smoke, requiring far less to be inhaled to obtain the same effect. They are also widely used for making edible products, which are the least harmful form of ingesting cannabis. Most people who produce concentrates are doing so for medicinal purposes, and this bill seeks to penalize them heavily.

I urge everyone who uses cannabis and supports both freedom and justice to educate themselves on the details of this bill and to fight together to stop it. The Conservative government has declared a culture war on all cannabis users and they want to imprison us. This bill does not only effect cannabis growers, it effects all cannabis users. It is time to end the complacency that exists in the cannabis community and stand up for our right as adults and free citizens to enjoy this wonderful plant. Stop bill S-10!