Holland to legalise now??

[cannabinol]

Netherlands: Dutch Parliament For Legalisation Of Soft Drugs
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n573/a02.html
Newshawk: Jan van der Tas
Pubdate: Tue, 22 Apr 2003
Source: de Volkskrant (Netherlands)
Contact: redactie@volkskrant.nl
Copyright: 2003, de Volkskrant
Website: http://www.volkskrant.nl
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2889
Note: The Second Chamber is the Dutch House of Commons. Currently a new
coalition cabinet is being formed. Translation from Dutch by Harry Bego.
Political Party names with a notation of "hb" inserted for clarification.


CHAMBER FOR LEGALISATION OF SOFT DRUGS

THE HAGUE - A large majority of the Second Chamber supports the plea of the Maastricht Court president Lampe for legalisation of soft drugs. Only CDA ( Christian democrats - hb ) wants to keep marijuana and hash under criminal law to prevent the Netherlands from being flooded by drug tourists.

Only CDA wants to keep hash under criminal law. CDA advocates strict adherence to current tolerance policy. "We must tune our drug policy with neighbouring countries. Otherwise we only import more drugs misery", CDA mp Van Haersma Buma says. VVD ( liberal conservatives - hb ) mp Griffith states that the opinions of Judge Lampe are in full agreement with the opinions of her party. "Drugs are a part of our society, you have to live with that."

Court president Lampe Last weekend criticised the clogging of the judicial system by the large amount of drugs cases. Other serious crimes remain unsanctioned or their trials are greatly delayed. Lampe thinks that legalisation of drugs, starting with soft drugs, can help.

PvdA, VVD, SP, LPF, GroenLinks and D66 support the plea by Lampe with respect to marijuana and hash. "Wise words from a man who knows", PvdA ( labour party - hb ) mp Albayrak says. Two years ago a proposal by PvdA to legalise soft drugs achieved a minute majority. "But the government refused to do anything with it. We call upon the new cabinet-to-be to take this almost Chamber-wide desire seriously".

Intended CDA coalition partner VVD shares that opinion. Spokesperson Griffith however thinks that as many allies as possible must be found in Europe and the rest of the world. United Nations treaties at the moment hinder the depenalisation of sale, trade and production of soft drugs.

The third candidate government party, D66 ( liberal democrats - hb ), has been in favor of the legalisation of soft drugs for years. "In that way one cuts organised crime off", faction leader and former Judge Dittrich says. Moreover, by legalising production, state control over thc-content, the active ingredient in marijuana, is enabled. Dittrich: "And that is necessary too. Soft drugs are becoming ever stronger".

LPF ( List Pim Fortuyn - hb ) prefers to hand over the sale of soft drugs to pharmacists. "We don't want to place it next to the sweets in the supermarket. Otherwise you'll be causing all young people to use drugs", LPF mp Eerdmans thinks.

[jono]

Yea, the current Netherlands policy won't work for them. American politics should not be feared anymore, we are in our 66th year of prohibition of cannabis and I think when it hits at 100 years we'll be defacto legal, I don't think prohibition will fully break until we are on our 120th year when it will be officially legal. America has passed decrim bills in it's states so I guess that should be known, I think the first coffee shops will open in our 75th year of prohibition and I think they will be harassed for awhile while cops still think it's fun but the coffeshop owners will just have to spread like germs and create loopholes for other would be coffeeshop owners, one of the first steps to take in America is to open a legal smoke shop that sells imitation buds; in a large city and a good owner who is cool that will show everybody how benificial smoking can be.

[Virgil]

If the support is in the House of Commons, then who else needs to be on board to make soft drugs legal? Who is it that has to start the process? Can the current head hancho veto anything coming out of parliament?

[qahouaji]

hmmmm---

yes. unfortunately the PM or the cabinet--de eerste kamer--can
veto or refuse to endorse any legislation in the parliament, or
de tweede kamer--

my sense is this. last month a slim majority condemned CDA's failure to
commit resources to help disadvantaged citizens and foreign immigrants.
according to the article in the amsterdam times, a majority any larger would
have resulted in a parliamentary condemnation which would have probably
forced PM Balkenende to resign. That's what we should be trying to do--he's
not real popular, and forcing him to resign would be a great blow to CDA's
prestige among Dutch people (CDA's first government, remember, collapsed
after only three months).

But, whatever happens, remember. it will be difficult for holland--for that matter,
any European government--to legalise cannabis. Too many European politicians
and think tanks are super-paranoid about their "liberal" policies, and always
receive pressure from less enlightened governments that believe in prosecution
and incarceration as the solution. The UN routinely condemns Western Europe,
and Western Europe routinely condemns Holland for its tolerance policy. The United
States never has been particularly helpful either.

A lot of factors conspire against legalization. First, there's the unwillingness to
admit and show face that the policies of the past have never worked. Politicians
just have a tough time admitting they've failed, saying "i'm sorry." Then there's
the super-demonization of cannabis and drugs in general--for many "upright"
citizens, it's a four-letter word; they can't, refuse to, see it different. Then there
are economic/social factors. Many Third World countries are populated with lots
of cannabis smokers and the popular sentiment is to legalise, but remember most
of those people are poor and illiterate and to them, politicians are like giants or
kings and their rules must be followed. Finally there's all the money that government,
police, courts, and mafia would lose. The "criminal" tag doesn't help either--but
then, haven't companies like GE, Microsoft, etc etc inevitably killed or ruined people?

However, no people on this earth have developed a political metaphysics as enlightened
with respect to social policy as the Western Europeans. More than anywhere
else, I think they're willing to listen. Civil resistance can work, I think, but it must
work with the same sophistication and rhetorical power as the anti-drug warriors.

Now, you, me, everyone on our side--must fight the good fight. Lots of
brilliant and noble men and women fought for freedom in the non-Western
world and lived lives of alienation and desperation, knowing they probably would
never realize their dream.

But, a good fight, I always say, is worth fighting. For justice, for those
like myself who did suffer, were processed, did get shackled to the court
and so on. People always say, "it'll never be legal." But someone, i know,
should have the courage to address this. The human spirit isn't that pale.

--qahouaji

[qahouaji]

some other things to ponder--

first off, let me say how it tends to work, based on
the articles i've followed over the past three years:

there are a number of skeletons in the closet that
prohibitionists bring out, with considerable success,
everytime that drug law reform is proposed. first,
there's health: an article talking about how cannabis
creates schizophrenia or damages the lungs would
circulate. then, there's the crime issue, or increased
usage and prevalence of sellers. for the media and
the government, those are automatically bad (modern
society's rhetoric doesn't have any loopholes that
would say: "we need more cannabis/cannabis users"--
it's just not talked about in our times that way. then there's
the "international treaties"--treaties that usurp the sovereign
rights of individual governments in the pursuit of the hopelessly
failed and stupid idea of "world government."

now, ANY of these issues with cannabis can be, or will
be, employed ANY TIME decriminalization or legalization gains
any significant support. unfortunately, this monolithic ideological
enemy will be present for our entire lives. also remember, modern
people would be shocked or unhappy about any of the three or
four accusations: its enough to develop enough resistance to keep
cannabis law reform in the "dangerous" column. Oh, I forgot all about
"protecting our children," that's an important one! it's also a complaint that
would shock or horrify ordinarily rational people into fanaticism and outright
hatred for those who are "different." the thing is, we've got to do a better
job of showing, through our campaigns and initiatives, that we are
a "good" people and deserve human rights like anyone else.

I've never seen any political platform or initiative that was strong enough,
ever! Britain's depenalization was worded with LOTS of anti-cannabis
language, for example. the popular movement--to open cafes and stuff like that,
well, we know what unfortunately happened.

But I feel strongly that our effort should be considerably more media-strong, try to
convince ordinary people who themselves see no stake, that we should provoke
outrage about the atrocities being done, and most importantly, that we reject
and disprove absolutely the sinister character assassinations and slandering
of the cannabis user--that he/she's a stupid misfit that somehow deserves
to suffer because he/she's rejected the world and the kind faces of our
charges of authority and government. THAT'S what we've GOT to start doing--
show how cannabis laws have resulted in the torture, murder, and sinister
transformation of basically ordinary people with good hearts and intentions. NOT
that we all gangsta' and gonna' shoot someone and it's all proper--that shit sounds
funny, but i promise you, mainstream society doesn't approve of it.

jah bless, jah guide. happy new year and kif for all in 2004.

--the qahouaji

[jonoguess]

legalize cannabis now means that jamacians advertise it and that companies sell it; I said that Holland policies won't stand I said this because they are just in decrim mode, think about legalization, think about how George Washington smoked and grew it think about what it will look like when it's done right without government interference.

[Reggie the dog]

According to a recent court decision in Alaska it is legal to Grow 20 plants or possess 4 oz of dried flowers. Its a start. Just wait for the next judge to say 20 plants means you can have 40 pounds, at that point they will say to hell with it. There is a petition going around there that is to be put on the ballot in November 2004 as a voter remerendum at it is worded so as to completely legalize HEMP/CANNABIS/MARIJUANA without resrtictions on how much you can grow in your own house. Sales are to be regulated and taxed so you will only get busted, if this law passes, if you sell without a liscence and dont pay tax (simialr to alcohol now); but farmers and people can grow all they want at give it away to people who help harvest it. The ninth circut court (federal court which covers area of USA including Alaska) just ruled that as far as medical marijuana goes, the feds must respect state laws so long as there is no commerce between states. Seeing as Alaska has no border with any other state the feds would be hard pressed to be able to legally interfere with their endevors. Too bad the cold weather rules living there out for my wife.......Perhaps Hawaii will follow if there is success in Alaska;)

[Davide]

Holland - the Trouw daily paper, interviewed the mayors of the 30 largest cities' of the Country, has found that two thirds party are line up you for the legalization of soft drugs. According to a survey of the Institute Maurice de Hond 49% of the Dutch formation for the legalization of the cannabis, 15% are supported that it comes maintained puts into effect it them regimen of tolerance and solo 33% wishes one political piu' restrictive.
http://droghe.aduc.it/php/articolo.php?id=13241

[qahouaji]

They're at it again--

read the links at cannabisnews.com. Federal government of the US proclaims to people: "cannabis causes suicide! cannabis produces psychosis! Marijuana arrests now 45% of all drug arrests!

With Raich vs. Ashcroft (Medical Marijuana) on the docket for the Supreme Court. I told you, they do this shit EVERY time legalization comes up, anywhere. Be informed, and take action!

Qahouaji