Pubdate: Fri, 25 May 2001 Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2001, Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.canoe.ca/OttawaSun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329 Author: Mark Dunn Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) CLARK OUT OF JOINT WITH POT STANCE Tory Leader Joe Clark has been called many things over the years, but don't call him Smokin.' Clark's expertise on the merits of decriminalizing possession of small amount of marijuana stops short of ever having fired up a joint. Clark, a young adult of the free-wheeling 1960s, waded into the emerging debate this week of whether pot smokers should be treated as hard-core criminals. "I think that decriminalization is something that should be supported because I believe it's unfair for someone who makes a mistake in their youth to bear that burden forever." Asked if it was true that he had once smoked up, Clark quipped: "It is not. Where did you invent that?" Clark's 12-member caucus is divided over the issue. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager