Manditory Minimum Marijuana Sentences in Bill C-10 is Reefer Madness Solution for Harper's Neo-Con Base

Despite the fact that every other country in the Western Hemisphere is moving away from mandatory minimum sentences for growing and possessing small amounts of marijuana, despite the undisputed fact that this idiotic policy of Harpo's will cost Canadian taxpayers billions of dollars to build prisons, will clog up the courts, will imprison non-violent productive members of society and will only increase the leverage organized crime has on the marijuana industry, undeterred, onward the Conservatives march. Why?

Because its an obvious wedge issue. Because Harpo's goal is to remain in power. Because the 40%, or slightly less, that voted for him are the only Canadians he cares to keep happy and many/most of them are convinced that smoking marijuana is a sin. Harpo's base of support is riddled with folks who are totally confused about the difference between a sin and a crime. It's not totally their fault individually, so many have been taught since the cradle to obey authority, to respect authority and that the minister-priest-bishop speaks for God-the big kahuna of authority.

A crime has a victim. A criminal believes he/she can get more out of a system than they put in-a free lunch. Criminals are dangerous to those around them and to society in general because they are immoral, because they have no empathy for others, because they reject the 'golden rule'-do unto others as you'd have them do unto you. A sin is a totally different thing. A sin is an internal conflict between the teachings of a religion [often totally moral and 'golden rule' appropriate] and the action an adherent is doing or the thoughts they are thinking. Marijuana growing for ones own consumption may be against the law of the land and the various churches may see it as a sin, but it is not immoral.

Anyway, as the John Howard Society of Manitoba points out: Bill C-10 will have a direct impact on rates of incarceration.  The Correctional Service of Canada is predicting an 8 per cent increase in inmates per year.  At the provincial level, the increase will likely be three or four times higher (putting it in the range of 24 to 32 per cent) given that the vast majority of minimum sentences will be served as ‘provincial time’. Added to that, the provinces will see an increase in remand wait times, as mandatory minimums make plea bargains less attractive, causing more cases to proceed to trial. All these changes will further burden our already financially strapped courts and prisons, but will not reduce instances of crime.

FAST FACTS: Bill C-10: The Truth About Consequences