Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jan 2013
Source: Daily Herald-Tribune, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2013 Daily Herald Tribune
Contact: http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/letters
Website: http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/804
Author: Patrick Callan
Page: 8

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION FOCUS OF UPCOMING DEBATE

Two heavyweights with opposing views about legalizing marijuana will 
debate the issue at Grande Prairie Regional College next week, and 
student organizers hope it will spark an interesting conversation in 
the community.

Bob Stutman, a 25-year veteran of the Drug Enforcement Administration 
in the U.S., and Steve Hager, editor-in-chief of High Times Magazine, 
will square off Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Douglas J. Cardinal 
Performing Arts Centre.

The two men have spoken at many post-secondary schools across North 
America as part of their "Heads vs. Feds" debate designed to present 
both sides of the argument in order for people to have a better 
understanding of the overall issue.

The contentious topic made headlines again at the end of 2012 when 
two U.S. states -Colorado and Washington - legalized recreational use 
of marijuana, while Canadian law went in the different direction.

The Safe Streets and Communities Act - as part of an omnibus bill 
that was passed by the Conservative government in March of 2012 and 
took effect in November 2012 -increased the penalties for producing marijuana.

At the lowest end, there is now a mandatory minimum sentence of six 
months in jail for someone who is convicted of growing at least six 
pot plants in Canada.

On the other hand, the Liberal Party of Canada has a legalization 
policy that would see personal use of marijuana regulated and taxed.

"We wanted to start the conversation and get it out to Grande 
Prairians," said Lydia Sadiq, vice-president of student wellness at 
the GPRC Students' Association.

The debate will be moderated by Gordon Pellerin, associate registrar 
at GPRC, and is expected to run for about an hour and a half, with 
each presenting their opening statements, followed by rebuttals, then 
taking questions from the audience.

"We're looking for people to ask hard-hitting questions from both 
sides of the argument," she said.

Part of her role with the students' association is to bring events to 
the college that make students think, Sadiq said.

"I want to challenge our student population, as well as our 
professors, to really think about why they have a certain stance 
towards marijuana," said the 20-year-old business administration student.

Sadiq said the educational value of the debate is very high, and she 
hopes many people from the community will attend and participate in 
the discussion.

"It is representing both sides of the argument. It won't be just a 
bunch of people fighting for the legalization of marijuana," she said.

"It is just to have the conversation of why each side has their beliefs."

Tickets cost $10 for GPRC students and $15 for non-students in 
advance, or $20 at the door for GPRC students and $25 for non-students.

Tickets are available at the Howlers Lounge and at the Students' 
Association office at GPRC, or at the Coyote Moon Hemp Company store downtown.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom