Ontario court strikes down marijuana laws

Ontario court strikes down marijuana laws - CTV News -

April 13, 2011 - "Ontario Superior Court Justice Donald Taliano found that the marijuana program is failing to ensure that patients who need the drug can get the necessary approvals. So the St. Catharines, Ont. justice declared the 'Marihuana Medical Access Regulations' invalid.

"And, because the problems with the program force medical marijuana users to resort to illegal means to obtain their marijuana, Taliano also struck down two sections of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act that prohibit possession and cultivating marijuana.

"He deemed the sections unconstitutional because they can be used to charge medical marijuana users who haven't been able to obtain medical marijuana licences.

"'Rather than promote health – the regulations have the opposite effect. Rather than promote effective drug control – the regulations drive the critically ill to the black market,' he wrote.

"The ruling doesn't immediately make pot possession legal: the judge suspended his ruling for three months, giving Ottawa until July to fix the problems his ruling identified."

Read more: http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110413/medical-marijuana-laws-110415/20110413/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome

The Libertarian party: Smaller government, more freedom

The Libertarian party: Smaller government, more freedom - John Shaw, National Post

Apr. 11, 2011:   "Our goal is to leave Canadians as much responsibility for their lives as possible ... we aim to return control to the individual as fast as practicable with the least dislocation to society. We are not anarchists, as some label us, but we do propose that much of what is currently done by government does not - or should not - be done only by government. The Libertarian platform includes:

"Ending the war on drugs Current drug enforcement policies have cost thousands of lives and billions of dollars....

"Ending war, in general NATO, as with our military, should be used only for defence from attack....

"Full choice at the ballot box ... We would add "None of the Above" to the ballot at all federal elections....

"Legal Reform ... A Libertarian government would open negotiations with the provinces to add property rights and other limits on the powers of government...

"10-for-4 Our bottom line spending cuts average 10% annually, for each of the next four years.... Taxes would decline proportionately after the deficit is eliminated.... it would only roll spending levels back to those of 2004, after four years....

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Libertarian+party+Smaller+government+more+freedom/4592942/story.html

Libertarian Party of Canada     http://libertarian.ca

Austin Cassidy: Ron Paul Should Stand Aside for Gary Johnson

Ron Paul Should Stand Aside for Gary Johnson - Uncovered Politics - Austin F. Cassidy,

Apr. 3, 2011:  "[D]uring the 2008 primary season ... Paul averaged only 5.58% in the Republican primaries he contested, and that figure actually exaggerates his appeal because it includes late season primaries where he was the only alternative on the ballot.... It wasn’t a lack of money that sank his campaign, Congressman Paul actually outraised and outspent Mike Huckabee.... the problem was that Republican voters weren’t interested. 

"Was it the message or the quirky 72-year-old political gadfly they rejected?  Does it really matter?

"A second bid for the White House by Ron Paul would tie up money and grassroots resources that could be far more effectively used by another candidate with a similar message.  I’m speaking, of course, about former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson. If both men run, they will split an already small slice of votes and neither will be able to make a significant dent in the discussion. "

http://www.uncoveredpolitics.com/2011/04/ron-paul-should-stand-aside-for-gary-johnson/

Ron Paul may be a long shot, but he sure has moved the target

Ron Paul may be a long shot, but he sure has moved the target | NJ.com - Paul Mulshine

Apr. 7, 2011:  ""On the stage [in 2007] were 10 candidates. Nine seemed comfortable in the conviction that the eventual GOP nominee would cruise to victory on the strength of the Bush administration’s brilliance in foreign policy. Paul had a different view, and ... he [was] asked 'Are you out of step with your party?'...

"What’s different is that, this time, the game will be played on Ron Paul’s turf. Ideas that might have seemed nutty four years ago have now moved into the mainstream. Paul sounded obsessive, for example, with his lectures on monetary policy last time around. Now, everyone’s against trillion-dollar deficits and the Fed’s policy of 'quantitative easing,' i.e. printing money.

"But the real fun will be in foreign policy.... [Any candidate] might point to President Obama’s Libyan adventure and say something like, 'We shouldn’t go to war so carelessly. When we do, the wars don’t end.' That’s a direct quote from Paul in that 2007 debate. All assembled were aghast."

http://blog.nj.com/njv_paul_mulshine/2011/04/ron_paul_may_be_a_long_shot_bu.html

Ron Paul in South Carolina Republican Presidential Debate May 5

Ron Paul | South Carolina Republican Presidential Debate | The Daily Caller - Breaking News, Opinion, Research, and Entertainment - Apr. 8, 2011:

"Ron Paul is expected to participate in a primary debate in South Carolina on May 5, the state party announced Friday....

"Paul has filled out the paperwork for a presidential exploratory committee, a spokesman for Paul’s PAC Campaign for Liberty told The Daily Caller, although he has not officially announced his candidacy. PAC spokesman Jesse Benton said they have all the forms prepared so that Paul can “'flip the switch' as soon as he decides to run.

"'I’d say this is a sign that he’s giving a really strong consideration to [running],' Benton said of the debate.  'The money’s been great, the enthusiasm’s been great. … The polling in New Hampshire’s really strong so we’re feeling good.'"

http://dailycaller.com/2011/04/08/hint-hint-ron-paul-to-join-presidential-debate/

Gary Johnson Knows He'll be Labeled the "Pot Candidate" | Fox News (blog)

Gary Johnson Knows He'll be Labeled the "Pot Candidate" | Fox News (blog) - Kelly David Burke - ‎Apr 5, 2011‎:

"Johnson served as Governor of New Mexico from 1996 until 2002. He began advocating marijuana legalization during his second term when he realized the War on Drugs was inordinately consuming state and local resources.

"'I wanted to crack down on drinking and driving.... And ... law enforcement, the courts and the prisons ... all three said, "We are so busy, our dockets are so full that if you want to have this kind of initiative you better give us some more money, more resources"'

"Johnson says that half of the time and resources of state and local law enforcement, courts and prisons was being spent on drug related crime. To him it looked like just another failed government policy, throwing more and more money at a problem with little to show for it."


Read more: http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/04/05/gary-johnson-knows-hell-be-labeled-pot-candidate

Gary Johnson to launch presidential bid April 21 - Kendra Marr - POLITICO.com

Gary Johnson to launch presidential bid April 21 - Kendra Marr - POLITICO.com

Mar. 29, 2011: "Gary Johnson will formally announce his candidacy for president on April 21 in New Hampshire.... The former New Mexico governor will skip creating an exploratory committee ... to immediately start campaigning and fundraising in the first-in-nation primary state....

"Johnson’s campaign headquarters will be based in Salt Lake City, home to his longtime adviser Ron Nielson, who worked on his two successful campaigns for New Mexico governor. Nielson’s firm NSON Opinion Strategy has doubled as the base of operations for Johnson’s 501(c)4 group Our America Initiative."

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/52168.html