Pubdate: Thu, 21 Aug 2014
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Jessica Hume
Page: 8

CRIMINALIZING TOKERS 'MAKES NO SENSE'

OTTAWA - NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair he believes the decision to smoke 
weed is a personal one and not something with which the Criminal Code 
should concern itself.

Officially, the NDP's position is in favour of decriminalization, 
though Mulcair says more stakeholder consultation is needed to 
understand the implications of changing marijuana laws.

Speaking at the Canadian Medical Association's general meeting 
Wednesday, Mulcair said it doesn't make sense to criminalize weed smokers.

"The NDP has been saying for 40 years that it makes no sense for 
someone to have a criminal record for possession or personal use," he said.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has made it clear he intends to 
legalize marijuana if elected to power. But the party has yet to 
release details on how that would work.

The Tories have launched an aggressive anti-marijuana campaign, 
trying to sell Canadians on the idea that Trudeau's policy would all 
but put the drug directly in the hands of Canadian youth.

With its principle priority on government-provided social programs, 
the idea of legalizing marijuana so it can be regulated and taxed, 
bringing in revenue for social programs, would make some sense as 
part of an NDP platform.

Mulcair said, in his day, smoking marijuana was "part of the culture."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom