Pubdate: Fri, 11 Sep 2015
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2015 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Ian Bailey
Page: S1

COMMENTS ON POT PUT TRUDEAU ON THE SPOT

A Liberal candidate in B.C. who suggested marijuana is harmless to 
children and reduces domestic violence quit the race on Thursday, 
creating a distraction for Justin Trudeau as he visited the province 
to promise money for transit projects and a ban on oil tankers off 
the northern coast.

In a pair of campaign appearances, Mr. Trudeau faced questions about 
Joy Davies' comments on marijuana, and about Alberta candidate Chris 
Brown, in the spotlight over 2009 tweets about women.

By Thursday afternoon, Ms. Davies was no longer the Liberal candidate 
for the riding of South Surrey-White Rock, making her the latest to 
leave the race over past incidents.

Earlier this week, two Conservatives quit, one who was caught on 
camera urinating into a coffee cup in a customer's home while working 
as an appliance repairman and another who posted YouTube videos of 
himself making prank calls. Also, a senior aide to NDP Leader Thomas 
Mulcair had to apologize for past tweets that criticized the Roman 
Catholic church.

The Huffington Post quoted Ms. Davies as saying second-hand marijuana 
smoke poses no risk to children and that babies born to mothers who 
consumed pot during pregnancy had higher IQs than babies whose 
mothers did not. She also suggested in past Facebook posts that the 
Canadian Cancer Society promotes the pharmaceutical industry and that 
pot reduces domestic violence, the Huffington Post reported.

"After much consideration, I have decided to resign as the Liberal 
candidate for South SurreyWhite Rock, effective immediately," she 
wrote on Facebook.

The Liberals condemned Ms. Davies' remarks and said they do not 
reflect the views of the party.

At a morning event in Vancouver that was supposed to be about transit 
funding for the Vancouver area - a major issue in a region that has 
struggled to find money to pay for new trains and buses - Mr. Trudeau 
found himself fielding questions about Ms. Davies.

"The Liberal Party took the position we have to control and regulate 
marijuana primarily for one reason - Mr. Harper's current approach is 
not protecting our children," Mr. Trudeau told reporters in Vancouver 
during a campaign announcement about transit funding.

Mr. Trudeau was also forced to address questions about Mr. Brown, the 
Alberta candidate behind the profane tweets regarding women, who 
issued an apology through the Liberal Party. Mr. Brown, who is 
running in Peace River-Westlock, said he became dependent on alcohol, 
leading to a "complete lack of judgment while posting on social 
media," after his partner was killed by a drunk driver. 
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom