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Canada signs on to U.S.-led renewal of war on drugs
Canada was rebuked on Monday by a group of world leaders and experts on drug policy for endorsing a Trump-led declaration renewing the "war on drugs" and for passing up a critical moment to provide global leadership on drug regulation.
The Trudeau government's decision to sign on to the declaration, released by the White House on the sidelines of U.S. President Donald Trump's first attendance at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, contradicts Ottawa's previous skepticism of Washington's drugs war at home and abroad, and comes just weeks before cannabis legalization in Canada.
Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark said she believed that both Canada and Mexico − which also signed the declaration even though president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has repeatedly said that the "war on drugs" has failed and he will pursue new policy − likely have signed on reluctantly, held hostage by the North American free-trade agreement talks in Washington, over which a critical deadline looms.
Countries that signed the "Global Call to Action on the World Drug Problem" were promised an invitation for their leader to attend a kick-off event with Mr. Trump in New York. The statement was not drafted in the usual multilateral process of a declaration from the UN and the wording was presented as non-negotiable. One hundred and thirty countries signed but 63 did not; the dissenters include major U.S. allies such as Germany, Norway and Spain.
Previously: Canada Becomes the Second Nation to Legalize Cannabis
Related: WP says Marijuana Legalization Makes World a Better Place
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Virindi on Monday October 01 2018, @05:08PM (3 children)
There is often freedom on the 'frontier'. Over time a 'frontier' goes through a transition period and during that time residents are accustomed to not having to follow rules, and resources are still limited, so law enforcement is restricted to only pursuing the egregious cases. Over time as the population rises and resources increase, people become used to having to follow millions of rules and get approval for everything they do.
But during that middle time between anarchy and bureaucracy, there can be a happy medium of relative safety and also the practical liberty to go about your life without having to get someone else's approval.
Historical examples are plenty. Modern Alaska probably qualifies as in that middle ground. And, of course, the eastern US during the founding of the country (which likely has a lot to do with the attitude of the country's original laws). Thomas Jefferson thought that this attribute of the frontier was so important that the then-broke US should pay $573 billion 2016 dollars to buy more of it in 1803.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 01 2018, @07:59PM (1 child)
Freedom to die! Bushwacked, Dry-gulched, ambushed. And/or eaten. As Moses said, "There is no freedom without the law!" Or has somebody been watching too many "Firefly" episodes on Nexflac?
(Score: 2) by Virindi on Tuesday October 02 2018, @12:31AM
That is why I am talking about the period of time when the frontier transitions towards civilization. Sheesh, why does every comment on this site these days sound angry?
(Score: 2) by dry on Tuesday October 02 2018, @01:50AM
Freedom on the frontier is usually freedom to infringe on other peoples rights. I'm not too up on Alaska but the American war of secession was largely about infringing on others rights. From the anger at the Royal Proclamation of 1763 (the tyrant declared all his subjects were equal and even allowed Papists to join government) to a revolt that saw fellow colonists tared and feathered and their stuff stolen. There was also a good chunk of the colonies whose lifestyle revolved in others having zero rights based on the colour of their skin.