Source: Ansa
12 december 2011
(ANSAmed) – MADRID, DECEMBER 12 – The Basque Parliament will approve a law bill in the first few months of 2012 on drug addiction, which will regulate “the growing, sale and consumption of cannabis”. This is according to the second in command at the region’s health authority, Jesus Maria Fernandez, who was quoted by the EFE agency. “It is better to regulate than to ban,” said Fernandez, who called the consumption of cannabis “a practice that is already consolidated”.
His words were echoed by the leading health official, Rafael Bengoa, who said: “We do not want to be prohibitionists”. The consumption and possession of cannabis are regulated by the penal code and by the law on citizen security. For the new ruling, for which “technical and legal studies have been undertaken”, the regional government wants to “open a debate” with associations in favour of consumption and to “shape their rights”.
The law bill on drug addiction also features prevention and treatment for gambling addictions, which affect 2% of the Basque population, and for addiction to new technology. (ANSAmed).
Update
The Basque Government was forced to issue a new statement to clarify its position. Bengoa said that the regional government “at NO time raised the LEGALISATION or permissiveness towards the consumption of cannabis, BUT wants to establish a REGULATION WITHIN THE EXISTING LAWS aimed at preventing trafficking, the protection of minors, health prevention and provide regulatory support for self-cultivation for consumption in a responsible manner.”
The Basque Health Department stated that its aim is to regulate the sale, consumption and cultivation by associations of users. These associations should meet certain requirements, such as limited access only to members, no entry for minors, recordkeeping of the cultivation and storage of cannabis and full information about the consequences of cannabis use and respect for the health of others.
BASQUE GOVERNMENT REGULATES CANNABIS SALE AND USE
Neither Cannabis, Gambling, nor “New Technology” are addictive. Without “New Technology” I wouldn’t be able to send this message, and you wouldn’t able to tell me about the Basque government’s proposed repressive measures.
If we cannot be in control of our own synapses, governments will control them for us, as the Basque government is trying to do.
The Basque government cannot “shape my rights” (even though I may be visiting their country next year). We should be shaping our own rights.
I agree with J.S. Mill (“On Liberty”, 1852) about this. Governments should have no right to control, or “shape” our behaviour, if our behaviour causes no harm to others.
Clive
BASQUE GOVERNMENT REGULATES CANNABIS SALE AND USE
looks like the Basque guv are GIVING you your rights, you sound like you are complaining about them, welldone to them for taking the sensible approach… also YES gambling and tech is addictive… so why does stuff like gamblers anonymous exist????
BASQUE GOVERNMENT REGULATES CANNABIS SALE AND USE
Telling a culture that kicked Franco to touch that they ‘can’ do something is like telling a fish to swim. Cultivation for aesthetic, recreational and medicinal use has been endemic in the Basque Country for a very long time. It shouldn’t surprise us to know that the social repository of cannabis knowledge is largely women folk. Any one recall the visit of Fernandez to NZ? Anyone who needs to know why I often am seen to wear a genuine basque red beret pretty much everywhere, even to Parliament, will probably get the connection. Red Berets are also the MILITARY UNIFORM of the BASQUE FREEDOM MOVEMENT or terrorist to NZ Police (and Army) and as such is a banned item around airports and other sensitive areas.
I was wearing mine CHCH->WGN when I outfoxed the airport security (military at the time) and arrived in Wellington Airport with not one but two pocket knives. (front page of the Dominion).
Not to make a point of it though as the real reason I wear it is that it goes with my red braces. And that is my HUMAN RIGHT and they will be upheld.
These rights are inalienable. I resent that they are ‘shaped’ by a US puppet hegemony. It must be challenged at every turn. It is our patriotic duty.
Red Beret Day is EveryDay.