Pubdate: Fri, 14 Aug 2015
Source: Standard, The (St. Catharines, CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 St. Catharines Standard
Contact: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/letters
Website: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/676
Author: Maryanne Firth
Page: A1

Election: Some Say Legalizing It, or Easing Legal Penalties, Are Good Options

CANDIDATES SPLIT OVER LEGALIZING POT

It's been a burning topic for years - whether or not to legalize marijuana.

In the wake of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's commitment earlier 
this week to strengthen Canada's anti-drug strategy after the 
election, a handful of local candidates weighed in on the subject 
that is creating buzz across the country.

"I am certainly not in favour of scrapping our current legislation," 
St. Catharines Conservative incumbent Rick Dykstra said, while siding 
with his party's move to pledge further funding to combat illicit drug use.

All research, he said, points to marijuana as a "dangerous drug" that 
is both addictive and has the potential to end up in the hands of 
Canadian youths.

Dykstra called it critical to "get to young people early" to prevent 
them from trying illegal substances.

"This is not something we need to be reactive to, but proactive on."

The Tories have committed an additional $5 million to boost the anti- 
drug strategy. The money would be used for a national help line and 
to boost RCMP enforcement.

While Dykstra is opposed to the legalization of cannabis, the one 
area he's "open to discussing" is an adjustment to enforcement.

"( Marijuana offences) clogging up our courts is something we could 
work to end," he said, adding he would be willing to look at 
offenders facing consequences that do not require a court appearance.

Chris Bittle, the St. Catharines Liberal candidate, believes the 
government's existing cannabis policies have been a "complete 
failure," with drug use remaining too high, particularly among teens.

He said he supports his party's "sound plan" to legalize marijuana, 
as he believes regulating its use will help prevent it from getting 
into the hands of underaged citizens.

"Currently 28% of Canadian teenagers have used marijuana. That's more 
than anywhere in the developed world," Bittle said, citing a UNICEF report.

Legalization will benefit the country, he said, by providing 
increased tax revenue and allowing police to focus efforts on more 
serious crimes.

For Malcolm Allen, the best move ahead is to decriminalize cannabis.

The Niagara Centre NDP incumbent wants to see individuals caught in 
possession of marijuana issued a ticket, rather than a criminal charge.

Being "caught with joints" and landing a record can impede future 
employment, Allen said. It can also result in a years-long wait to 
apply for a pardon to have that record removed.

"This way, you don't end up with a criminal record and it doesn't 
ruin someone's life." But Allen doesn't believe it's justifiable, at 
this point, to legalize cannabis.

"We'd be going from one extreme to another. I think decriminalizing 
is the next step."

Niagara Falls Green Party candidate Steven Soos says legalization is 
where Canada should be headed.

"We want to remove marijuana from the drug schedule and create a 
regulatory framework for production," he said in agreement with his 
party's policies.

Legalization will "benefit small, independent growers," he said, 
calling the move a "good idea for local agricultural development."

"We'll establish the sale of marijuana to adults through licensed 
distribution outlets," Soos said, which will "directly support small 
businesses.

"(Marijuana) would be sold in a sanctioned environment, like The Beer Store."

A public education campaign would inform Canadians of the drug's 
health risks, he said, and ads would be run similar to those seen for tobacco.

Niagara Regional Police are not in favour of the decriminalization or 
legalization of marijuana, said Deputy Chief Bryan MacCulloch.

He does, however, believe there is "another enforcement option" that 
should be available to officers, such as ticketing when a small 
amount is found in a person's possession.

Regardless, the NRP believe "illicit use of marijuana has a negative 
impact on public safety and the health of young persons," he said.

Rob Thibault, a member of the Niagara Cannabis Club, said the 
organization is "pro-legalization" due mainly to the medical benefits 
of marijuana.

"We have a stance of waiting and seeing," he said, adding he has 
little confidence that any action will be taken to change the 
legislation following the federal election, regardless of the outcome.

Thibault credited marijuana for helping him get his life on track by 
easing his chronic pain.

"The big change in my life was cannabis. It can change people's lives."

The move to legalize is not one Community Addiction Services of 
Niagara supports.

"Typically, the more available a substance is, the more problems you 
see in the vulnerable population," chief executive officer Lisa Panetta said.

While not all people, youths included, develop a problem with 
marijuana, some do, she said.

"We do see it as a problem here with many of our clients."

Asked about the decriminalization of the drug, she said the 
organization notes "criminalizing an addictive behaviour doesn't 
necessarily help a person to get better."
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