Pubdate: Thu, 01 May 2003
Source: Canadian Press (Canada Wire)
Copyright: 2003 The Canadian Press (CP)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

MANLEY REGRETS NEVER SMOKING POT 'BECAUSE NOW IT'S DE RIGUEUR'

OTTAWA (CP) - In a new twist on a weedy old political conundrum, Liberal 
leadership hopeful John Manley has turned the once-dreaded pot-smoking 
question on its ear.

The finance minister and deputy prime minister, 53, is on record supporting 
decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, a measure the 
Liberal government has promised to introduce this spring. But until now, 
Manley hadn't spoken about his personal experience with the drug. The 
question of pot smoking by politicians has become standard fare in recent 
years. Responses have ranged from former U.S. president Bill Clinton's 
disingenuous, "yes, but I didn't inhale," to Heritage Minister Sheila 
Copps's rather more enthusiastic "absolutely."

Manley had to concede in an interview Thursday with The Canadian Press that 
the psychedelic sixties passed him by.

"No, never," Manley deadpanned when asked if he'd ever smoked pot.

"I regret that, now, because apparently it's 'de rigueur.'"

The Oxford dictionary definition of de rigueur is something that is 
required by custom or etiquette.

Manley's strange confession comes two days after Prime Minister Jean 
Chretien cautioned an applauding group of Liberals at a party fundraiser in 
Ottawa not to spark up just yet because the decriminalization measures 
haven't been passed.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager