Pubdate: Tue, 14 Jun 2016
Source: Metro (Vancouver, CN BC)
Page: A1
Copyright: 2016 Metro Canada
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3775
Author: David P. Ball

'EASIER TO BUY POT THAN COFFEE': MP

Decriminalizing would profit gangs, Liberals argue

A lone Liberal MP from Toronto broke ranks with his party during a 
pot debate Monday, lending his support to a New Democrat motion to 
decriminalize the drug until it becomes legal next year.

Nathaniel Erskine-Smith argued in the House of Commons that 
continuing to prosecute people for simple possession of the drug - 
57,314 Canadians in 2014, according to Statistics Canada - is unfair.

"Is not decriminalization a fairer option as a matter of scarce 
judicial resources and a matter of not affecting young people's lives 
negatively, for no reason at all, when we're legalizing within one 
year?" he asked.

His comments came during an NDP motion that would see selling 
marijuana remain illegal in Canada, but simple possession for 
personal use not be enforced.

Victoria MP Murray Rankin, the party's justice critic, said in an 
email that many voters feel betrayed by the Liberals' election 
promise to reform weed laws quickly. Maintaining the status quo, he 
argued, would needlessly risk the future jobs and travel of more than 
20,000 people who get pot-related criminal records every year.

Liberal cannabis czar Bill Blair - previously Toronto police chief - 
said the NDP's motion was "reckless in the extreme" and could "create 
much greater risk for our communities to remove all control from 
cannabis," he said.

"It would create opportunities for organized crime," he argued 
Monday, "and put our children at risk."

Quebec Conservative MP Alain Rayes accused Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau of "trivializing" drug use, especially for young people who 
are more "vulnerable" to its effects.

"Imagine: In Vancouver there are more illegal pot shops than 
Starbucks," he said. "It's easier to buy pot than coffee in Vancouver.

"If you can grow it at home, when it's legalized, people can do it 
everywhere. Nothing will protect our children."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom