Pubdate: Wed, 24 Apr 2013
Source: Alaska Highway News (CN BC)
Section: Political Grill
Copyright: 2013 Glacier Interactive Media
Contact:  http://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/716

QUESTION: CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT MOST BRITISH COLUMBIANS HAVE 
SMOKED MARIJUANA, DO YOU BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE LEGALIZED AND TAXED?

Pat Pimm, Liberal candidate

There is no doubt in my mind that there are many people that smoke
marijuana in our Province and there will always be those that smoke
marijuana. I think there is some merit in legalizing and regulating
the product just as we did with alcohol but I can say that this is a
topic that I will not consider endorsing until the Federal government
decides to legalize marijuana and it is also a topic that I will not
spend any more time on once I have wrote this response.

Judy Fox-McGuire, NDP candidate

I understand the complexity of this issue and have been carefully
listening to all arguments, and as a criminologist I have concerns
about the pressure the existing law places on our justice system. The
federal government has responsibility for establishing drug laws and I
would hope that they would carefully review evidence from law
enforcement officials and healthcare providers in their consideration
of this issue.

Arthur Hadland, Independent candidate

Marijuana is not a priority of mine because I do not believe it is a
priority of the people of Peace River North. If it becomes a priority
for my constituents, then I will seek to make it a priority in
Victoria. For example, I will be conducting regular polls within the
community to make sure my priorities are representative of the people
in Peace River North. Personally, I believe prohibition is largely
ineffective, fuels the black-market, and compromises the future of our
youth by drawing them into the criminal world. However, there are much
more pressing issues facing BC at this time. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D