Pubdate: Thu, 22 Sep 2005
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005, Canoe Inc
Contact:  http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: Irwin Loy, 24 hours
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

THE DRUGS DRAW THE PARTY LINES

The election platforms of the Non-Partisan Association's two mayoral 
candidates look so much alike, you might have a hard time telling Sam 
Sullivan and Christy Clark apart.

 From a love for "safe streets", to a dislike for Vision Vancouver 
mayoral hopeful Jim Green, it seems there's little politically the 
two don't have in common.

Except for one thing: Drug policy.

While Sullivan has long supported the controlled legalization of some 
drugs, Clark is dead set against it, a fact the former Liberal MLA 
made sure to mention to reporters at an NPA forum this week.

"Sam's been pretty public about [his views on drugs]," Clark said. 
"My question is, what do you do about crystal meth? I don't think 
making all drugs legal is really the way to go about doing things."

But Sullivan has long been a proponent of the controversial four 
pillars drug strategy to combat addiction, an issue which divided a 
previous regime in the right-leaning party.

"When you can get some vulnerable youth addicted, you get an annuity 
for life," Sullivan said, adding that drug dealers will keep the 
upper hand "until we get control of the profit for drugs."

But the issue may be moot, since cities have little say on federal 
drug laws. Still, Sullivan likes the idea of innovative treatment 
programs for addicts.

"We have to work within the rules that we have," Sullivan said.

NPA members will decide between the two candidates this weekend.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman