A Burning Question

Mayoral candidate Michael Baldasaro's answers to the questions posed to him on The Hamiltonian, appear to be generally well received. So, we thought we'd follow up with Michael and ask a question that we believe people would be interested in. Michael was gracious enough to provide an answer. His answer is posted verbatim.

Q.        Your use of marijuana as a sacrament related to your religious beliefs, may invoke pause in the minds of some, and cause them to question whether you would be fit to lead this city.  How do you respond to these concerns? Can you understand how some might have doubts about you as a leader, given your use and advocacy for the use of marijuana? What is your message to those who might think in that way?




My message to those who believe marijuana would interfere with my ability to lead this City is clear:

Because of the persecution I have endured, I have a better understanding of our Justice System and can more adequately protect the Citizens of the G.H.A. from injustice.

Fears over the consumption of Marijuana by the Mayor of the Greater Hamilton Area “G.H.A.”, are unfounded (Reefer Madness).

In the first place, Religious Freedoms are constitutionally guaranteed under Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1867-2010. The use of marijuana, in religious worship, should invoke no more pause to question one’s ability to lead the G.H.A., than British Columbia gives to their Superior Court Justice or than the University of Toronto gives to their 2 Professors who use it daily. Both the Court and University, in recognition of their medicinal needs, created special smoking rooms for ingesting marijuana, at work during their breaks from the bench and in the classroom.

I have a Prescription from my Doctor, to use marijuana, medicinally, which makes the question to my inability to lead because of my “religious use of marijuana, “moot”. My medicinal use of Marijuana is prescribed to me in compliance with the provisions of the Federal Government’s Civil, Non-Criminal, Health Regulations, under the Controlled Drug and Substance Act.

Citizens should be more concerned if I drank alcohol, (which I don’t), according to The Honourable Mr. Justice McCart, who, in the Superior Court of Justice, Jury Trial, on August 14, 1997, at London, Ontario, in the matter of THE QUEEN vs, CHRISTOPHER CLAY and others, Ruled as follows:

HIS HONOUR: I wish to turn now to some statistical evidence which was introduced by various of the witnesses and which I accept as valid. I heard from a most impressive number of experts, among whom there was a general consensus about effects of the consumption of marijuana. From an analysis of their evidence I am able to reach the following conclusions:

1.	Consumption of marijuana is relatively harmless compared to the  so-called hard drugs and including tobacco and alcohol;
2.	There exists no hard evidence demonstrating any irreversible organic or mental damage from the consumption of marijuana;
3.	That cannabis does cause alteration of mental functions and as such, it would not be prudent to drive a car while intoxicated;
4.	There is no hard evidence that cannabis consumption induces psychoses;
5.	Cannabis is not an addictive substance;
6.	Marijuana is not criminogenic in that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between cannabis use and criminality;
7.	That the consumption of marijuana probably does not lead to "hard drug" use for the vast majority of marijuana consumers, although there appears to be a statistical relationship between the use of marijuana and a variety of other psychoactive drugs;
8.	Marijuana does not make people more aggressive or violent;
9.	There have been no recorded deaths from the consumption of marijuana;
10.	There is no evidence that marijuana causes amotivational syndrome;
11.	Less than 1% of marijuana consumers are daily users;
12.	Consumption in so-called "de-criminalized states" does not increase out of proportion to states where there is no de-criminalization.
13.	Health related costs of cannabis use are negligible when compared to the costs attributable to tobacco and alcohol consumption.

This would save tax dollars!

Be well and prosper.

In peace, bless us all.

Brother Michael James Baldasaro

2010 Greater Hamilton Area (G.H.A.) Mayoralty Candidate

http://www.iamm.com/baldasaro.for.mayor.htm

The Hamiltonian does not endorse or counter any candidate running in the municipal election. We are nuetral. We operate in a democratic context where free speech is valued. Our focus is to engage Hamiltonians in dialogue with one another on matters concerning our great city. We encourage all Hamiltonians to vote. To get to know other candidates who have registered, click here. For more information or to be a guest here, please email adminhamiltonian@cogeco.ca.