Pubdate: Sat, 21 Apr 2012
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2012 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/send_a_letter
Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Joan Bryden

LIBERALS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NDP'S CONFUSION ON POT PLATFORM

OTTAWA -- Tom Mulcair is clearing the air on pot, clarifying that he
doesn't believe anyone should go to jail for possessing a couple of
joints.

The freshly minted NDP leader created confusion about his party's
position recently when he said decriminalization of marijuana would be
a mistake.

But it appears he was actually referring to outright legalization of
marijuana.

"Terms like legalization and decriminalization are often
inappropriately used interchangeably," Mulcair spokesman George Soule
said Friday.

"But be very clear that Thomas Mulcair does not believe that anyone
should be going to jail for possession of just a small amount of pot.
Criminalization is not the answer for any area of social policy."

Last month, shortly before winning the NDP leadership contest, Mulcair
was asked by Global TV's Tom Clark whether he supports decriminalizing
marijuana.

"No," Mulcair said then. "I think that would be a mistake because the
information that we have right now is that the marijuana that's on the
market is extremely potent and can actually cause mental illness."

The comment appeared to be a reversal of the NDP's long-standing
support for decriminalization.

It came back to haunt Mulcair on Friday, the annual April 20
counterculture "pot holiday," as the Liberals attempted to turn
marijuana into a defining issue in the battle for centre-left young
voters.

Young Liberals plastered Mulcair's quote on handouts and posters to be
circulated at pro-pot rallies. They were also to distribute buttons
promoting the Liberal party's new policy in favour of
legalization.

"This is the new NDP and we are going to tell people about it," said
Young Liberal president Samuel Lavoie.

"Mr. Mulcair would continue to punish pot smokers, would continue the
Harper war on drugs -- a war even Mr. (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper
now admits is 'not working.' ... Only the Liberal party will take
Canada in a new direction and end Mr. Harper's failed war on drugs."

The NDP was the first national party to support decriminalization, a
position adopted by the Liberal government of Jean Chretien. His
government introduced a bill to remove criminal penalties for
possession of small amounts of marijuana but the Liberals were
defeated by Stephen Harper's Conservatives.

- -- The Canadian Press
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D