Canadian official causes stir with ‘progressive’ speech at UN narcotics conference
UN body chided Canada for its cannabis intentions, which it said violated the international Convention on Narcotic Drugs
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
The Liberal government used its first foray into the global anti-narcotics arena this week to signal a clear shift away from the war-on-drugs philosophy, promising more safe-injection sites, promoting “harm reduction” and touting its plan to legalize marijuana. The speech by Hilary Geller, an assistant deputy minister of health, caused a stir at the generally staid Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, observers said. She defended the government’s plan to “legalize, strictly regulate and restrict access to” marijuana.