Pubdate: Thu, 13 Aug 2015
Source: Kamloops This Week (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Kamloops This Week
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1271
Author: Cam Fortems

DIVERGENT VIEWS ON HOW TO HANDLE MARIJUANA

Conservatives Prefer Status Quo Illegality; Others Call for 
Legalization, Decriminalization

Voters shopping for a candidate with views on marijuana can pick from 
the spectrum: today's treatment under the Criminal Code advocated 
this week by Conservative Leader Stephen Harper to Liberal Leader 
Justin Trudeau's commitment to legalize it and turn the spoils over 
to taxpayers.

"Colorado, Washington and Europe, they've got it 
government-controlled where they're protecting kids and protecting 
people by making sure marijuana is not laced [with other drugs]," 
said Liberal candidate Steve Powrie.

Powrie, whose brother is a police officer, said organized crime's 
biggest profits come from pot, something that would change if it were 
legalized, taxed and controlled by government.

"There's not a grow-op in this area that hasn't had a visit from the 
Hells Angels," he said.

But, incumbent Conservative MP Cathy McLeod echoed Harper, who said 
pot use will increase with legalization and worsen health of Canadians.

Harper promised to increase funding to about $27 million a year to 
help RCMP target grow-ops and meth labs, and to pay for a national 
toll-free hotline for parents to get information about drug use by 
young people.

McLeod called the pledges important measures, including the toll-free hotline.

"Too often, I have parents with no idea of where to get advice. The 
hotline is an important measure."

McLeod, a nurse by profession, said advocates for legalization ignore 
what she said is evidence of linkage between marijuana usage and 
psychiatric illness.

Between the two is New Democrat candidate Bill Sundhu, who is calling 
for decriminalization that would take it out of the Criminal Code.

"We know the war on drugs has been a dismal failure," said Sundhu, a 
former judge and now criminal lawyer. "Drugs permeate every community 
and are easy to buy. Our approach hasn't worked."

Sundhu said he would not favour treating marijuana like alcohol or 
tobacco by allowing its sale and control by government.

"You risk the kind of promotion you have with alcohol and tobacco."

He also said he doesn't want to see marijuana-infused gummy bears, 
available in Colorado marijuana retail stores, in the hands of children.

Green candidate Matt Greenwood, who works at ASK Wellness, echoed 
Powrie's concerns that chemical-laced marijuana is making its way to 
the streets and, potentially, in the hands of teenagers.

"Currently, marijuana laced with fentanyl (a synthetic opiate) is 
showing up right here in Kamloops and has caused several overdoses 
already," he said in a email message.

Greenwood said he supports legalization of marijuana. The Green party 
is also calling for decriminalization of other drugs, calling it a 
medical problem rather than a criminal one.

[sidebar]

But . . . did they all inhale?

On the heels of Prime Minister Stephen Harper announcing his party's 
continued tough-on-marijuana stance during the election campaign, KTW 
asked the four Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo candidates if they have ever used pot:

Bill Sundhu (NDP): "When I think about it, I probably did take a toke 
once or twice while at drinking parties in university. It would be 
very rare because alcohol was my choice in those days, including 
among my friends and associates."

Steve Powrie (Liberal): "My personal history with pot was as a teen, 
but I never enjoyed it. A lot of kids used pot or harder drugs. I 
probably did more drinking."

Cathy McLeod (Conservative):"Over 35 years ago. I was a student and I 
tried it."

Matt Greenwood (Green): Did not respond to the question by deadline.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom