Pubdate: Sun, 27 Sep 2015
Source: Penticton Herald (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.pentictonherald.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/664
Author: James Miller
Page: A1

POT TALK A WASTE OF BREATH, SAYS TORY

South Okanagan-West Kootenay candidates asked at election forum about 
legalizing marijuana, but Conservative says constituents care more 
about other issues, like jobs

Legalizing pot is not a big priority for constituents in the South 
Okanagan-West Kootenay riding, Conservative candidate Marshall 
Neufeld declares.

"What I hear consistently from constituents is they don't see this as 
a top issue in the riding unlike (Liberal Leader) Justin Trudeau, who 
made this his first policy promise," Neufeld told a crowd of 150 at 
an all-candidates forum Saturday at the South Main Drop-In Centre in 
Penticton. "We (Conservatives) are going to stay focused on jobs, the 
economy and taxation, and not marijuana use."

The question drew the greatest audience reaction at the two-hour 
forum, where questions were submitted by audience members and read to 
candidates by moderator Dale Boyd.

"Marijuana is an illegal drug, and it can be dangerous and it can 
have lasting effects on some individuals," Neufeld said. "Our 
Conservative government wants to stop kids from smoking marijuana, 
and we don't want to make access to an illegal drug easier." "Justin 
Trudeau wants to make smoking marijuana a normal, everyday activity 
in Canada. He wants to make it available in stores, just like alcohol 
and cigarettes."

Liberal candidate Connie Denesiuk defended her party's position. "Our 
rationale is to keep marijuana out of the hands of young people 
because it does affect the brain," she said. "It's easier for young 
people to get marijuana than it is cigarettes because it's in the 
hands of the pushers and the Hells Angels. I'm happy not to have it 
in the hands of the criminals."

Denesiuk added there's a lucrative underground economy for marijuana, 
in particular in the West Kootenays, "and they're not paying taxes. 
My husband and I have run a business for 35 years and we pay taxes. 
It's time for that industry (marijuana) to start paying taxes too."

The Greens are the only other party that openly supports legalizing marijuana.

"It's just not for the cash grab. There's a fair amount of science 
supporting marijuana," said Green candidate Samantha Troy. "Canada's 
history of prohibition doesn't work. Science supports that an awful 
lot of damage is being done by things that we've already legalized - 
tobacco and alcohol - which hurt a whole lot more people than marijuana."

Troy said Canadians, per capita, have one of the highest rates of 
marijuana use in the world. She said that when the Netherlands 
legalized pot, usage declined. NDP candidate Dick Cannings said his 
party was the first to openly discuss the sensitive issue and his 
stand is to decriminalize the drug.

"We don't think Canadians who smoke the odd joint should be thrown in 
jail with a minimum sentence," Cannings said. "It's (smoking pot) a 
very common thing in Canada, especially in British Columbia. We would 
decriminalize it right away and try and fix the medical marijuana 
situation, such as young children needing marijuana oils to stop seizures."

Cannings said the government could look to states such as Colorado 
and Washington, which now regulate marijuana, to see how it's done 
and what problems can be avoided.

He disagreed with Neufeld's stand that it's not a concern to most citizens.

"I've been knocking on thousands of doors and many doors open to a 
billow of smoke," he said. "I'm amazed by the number of people around 
the riding who've told me they use medical marijuana for all sorts of 
ailments."

Independent candidate Brian Gray is uncertain, but mostly opposed.

"If we legalize marijuana, in 20 years time are we going to have the 
productive, intelligent and educated workforce to build nuclear 
plants, to build high-speed rail, to engage in space programs with 
other nations?" he asked. "Twenty years down the road, will 
impressionable youth be more interested in smoking weed than engaging 
in the arts?"

The forum marked the first time in the campaign that all five 
candidates on the ballot have participated in the same forum. Neufeld 
did not attend the first five smaller forums, Troy joined the race 
late and Gray was not invited to last week's Penticton Herald forum.

The majority of questions at Sunday's meeting were asked previously 
at other forums. Opening remarks from the candidates also mirrored 
the other forums.

Topics of discussion included seniors health care, Syria, a proposed 
national park for the South Okanagan and Similkameen, increasing the 
age to receive Old Age Security to 67 from 65, and missing and 
murdered aboriginal women.

The next public forum for the riding will be Wednesday at Frank 
Venables Auditorium in Oliver, beginning at 7 p.m.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom