Pubdate: Tue, 27 Aug 2013
Source: Guardian, The (CN PI)
Copyright: 2013 The Guardian, Charlottetown Guardian Group Incorporated
Contact:  http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/174
Author: Ryan Ross

SHEA SAYS SHE NEVER SMOKED MARIJUANA

P. E. I..' s Federal Cabinet Minister Criticizes Liberal MPs' Support 
of Legalization

As politicians around the country are being asked if they ever smoked 
marijuana, P. E. I.' s only representative in cabinet says she has 
never tried it.

Fisheries Minister Gail Shea was responding to questions from the 
media after she released a statement Monday morning in which she 
criticized the Island's Liberal MPs for supporting Liberal Leader 
Justin Trudeau's stance on marijuana legalization.

The statement was a rare criticism of her fellow Island MPs from a 
cabinet minister who usually stays away from personal attacks on 
politicians from the opposition parties.

But when asked about the issue after a funding announcement in 
Bonshaw, Shea told reporters she had never smoked marijuana.

"No, I haven't and I have no intention to," she said.

In her statement, Shea called Trudeau's stance on marijuana 
legalization "reckless" and said the Island's Liberal MPs need to 
explain how legalizing it would benefit P. E. I. families.

In speaking to the media, Shea said the first policy statement from 
Trudeau since he became the leader was to legalize marijuana across 
the country.

"I think that is sending a terrible message to our population, to our 
youth," she said.

Last week, Trudeau admitted to smoking marijuana several times, 
including once while in office.

Trudeau's stance on marijuana has changed over the years, ranging 
from supporting a bill that would have imposed mandatory minimum 
sentences for marijuana offences to his more recent calls to legalize it.

Shea said there are other issues the country needs to deal with instead.

"Legalizing marijuana, I don't believe, is going to help anyone," she said.

When asked what she thought the policy would mean for Liberals in the 
next election, Shea said her concern with Trudeau was whether his 
policies would be good for Atlantic Canada and P. E. I.

"I think this will be very damaging for Canada and I think it's 
sending the wrong message out to our youth," she said.

One of the arguments made for legalizing marijuana is that it would 
put it under government regulation, similar to alcohol or tobacco, 
and Trudeau has said it would be a way of keeping it out of children's hands.

But Shea disagreed, saying organized crime is still involved with 
alcohol and tobacco, despite regulation.

"It does not take it out of the hands of children legalizing it, so I 
don't buy that argument," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom