Pubdate: Sat, 23 Sep 2000
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: The Vancouver Sun 2000
Contact:  200 Granville Street, Ste.#1, Vancouver BC V6C 3N3
Fax: (604) 605-2323
Website: http://www.vancouversun.com/
Authors: Glenn Bohn, Peter O'Neil and Scott Simpson, Vancouver Sun

DAY, MPS SPLIT OVER MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

AT ODDS: Randy White advocates fines but no jail for marijuana possession.

AT ODDS: John Reynolds would support constituents' wishes.

AT ODDS: Keith Martin says Canada should follow the Swiss example and
decriminalize.

Some Canadian Alliance MPs from British Columbia say they want to reduce or
eliminate Criminal Code penalties for marijuana, but not their leader
Stockwell Day. Day, who smoked pot in his youth, says he won't use his clout
as opposition leader to initiate a debate on drug legalization.

He also says he would neither initiate nor support a proposal to legalize
drugs like heroin and cocaine as a way of cutting off profits and power from
organized crime.

However, Day acknowledges that prohibition of alcohol in the early 20th
century didn't stop people from drinking and served only to greatly empower
organized crime.

"I appreciate the argument related to [alcohol] prohibition," Day
(Okanagan-Coquihalla) told The Vancouver Sun.

"But when you think about what that would mean in terms of cocaine, crack
cocaine, heroin -- the effects of which are devastating -- I just can't see
a government being in a place to advocate or condone something so
destructive." Earlier this week, Day said he favoured a House of Commons
debate to consider matters raised in a recent series of articles, published
in Southam newspapers, that argued in favour of drug legalization.

"The Canadian Alliance position is clearly to allow for that legalization
related to the alleviation of pain and for medicinal purposes," Day said
Monday.

The Sun called the Ottawa offices of all 24 Alliance MPs from B.C. on
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and put these two questions to Alliance
MPs:

If there's a free vote, will you support the legalization of street drugs
for medicinal purposes? If so, which drugs?

Eleven of the 24 MPs didn't respond or refused to answer the questions.
Keith Martin, the only Canadian Alliance MP from B.C. who is a medical
doctor, said people who use marijuana should be fined, not jailed.

Martin (Esquimalt--Juan de Fuca) proposed the decriminalization initiative a
year ago in a private member's bill. Money saved in reduced police and court
costs would go toward drug treatment and prevention programs, he said.
Martin said Canada should learn from Switzerland, "where they dealt with
drug users from a medical perspective, not a criminal perspective," by
getting them out of a substance abuse environment and offering counselling,
skills training and jobs.

"Our process of putting someone in detox and then putting them back on to
the streets is an abysmal failure," said Martin, who has worked in
detoxification programs for 12 years.

Alliance justice critic Randy White said he is drafting his party's drug
policy and hopes it will recommend no jail time for those caught with less
than 30 grams of marijuana.

However, those caught with small amounts should still be subject to fines
under the Criminal Code, he said.

"We have no agenda to decriminalize marijuana," White (Langley-Abbotsford)
said.

Police should be free to focus on the use of more serious street drugs, he
said.

"I have seen young girls shooting up between their toes because there's no
other place to shoot up," he said.

"And when you watch that, you think, 'My God, why are we thinking of this
little marijuana thing when there are parents out there agonizing over their
kids just doing this all day long?'"

Chuck Cadman (Surrey North) said he'd support decriminalization of
possession of small amounts of marijuana, but would not favour legalization
of any street drugs.

Cadman said he'd support summary convictions, similar to traffic tickets,
for simple possession -- but only in concert with heavier penalties and a
greater commitment to investigation and prosecution of pot growers and
traffickers.

Former justice critic John Reynolds (West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast) said
surveys of his constituents have found strong support for decriminalization
of marijuana for personal use, and legalization for medicinal use -- adding
that he'd support their wishes in a free vote.

Reynolds was less supportive of legalization of heroin and other illicit
drugs, but noted heroin is already used in some instances in palliative
care.

Val Meredith (South Surrey--White Rock) said she'd support a free vote only
after an extensive national debate in which the public's wishes were
determined.

She said the debate should proceed now, and include an examination of costs
to society, courts, police and other agencies of continuing with the current
policies, and the ramifications of change.

Meredith said a recent mail-in poll of her constituents found that of 2,376
respondents, 1,893 or almost 80 per cent supported the legalization of
marijuana for medicinal purposes.

She said 450 people or 19 per cent were opposed while only 33 people, 1.39
per cent, had no opinion.

A smaller majority, about 55 per cent, also supported decriminalization for
non-medicinal use in cases involving quantities of 30 grams or less.

"I think Canadians are ready to have this discussion . .  . and to have the
facts put on the table. You will need the support of Canadians if you want
something to work."

Ted White (North Vancouver), direct democracy critic for the Alliance, said
he'd have to consult his constituents before saying if he'd support
decriminalization.

But White said he believes that, if it came to a referendum, a majority of
B.C. residents would support decriminalization.

White said the party's policy on free votes is clear -- Alliance MPs are
obligated to consult with residents of their ridings and establish the
public's will.

"If my constituents told me they wanted me to vote for decriminalization of
certain street drugs in a free vote I would do it because I am their
servant," he said. "It wouldn't matter what I think of it personally."

Philip Mayfield (Cariboo-Chilcotin) said he is opposed to relaxation of
criminal sanctions against drug use, though he supports Health Canada's
current policy of issuing permits for those wanting to use marijuana for
medicinal purposes.

"If a doctor says that's a good way to go, I can't see standing in the way
of a professional who wants to do their job."

Mike Scott (Skeena) and Jay Hill (Prince George-Peace River) both said they
consider legalization or decriminalization of drugs a moral issue that
should be decided by constituents.

"I would take great pains to poll my constituents and vote according to the
will of the majority," Scott said.

John Duncan (Vancouver Island North) said he is personally in favour of
decriminalization of marijuana use but believes drug trafficking should
remain illegal.

Duncan added that so-called harder drugs such as heroin and cocaine should
continue to be illegal -- adding that he'd oppose legalization of marijuana
because he doesn't want Canada to become a tourist destination for pot
users.

Gary Lunn (Saanich-Gulf Islands) said he's uncomfortable with
decriminalization of marijuana because it might send the wrong message to
children.

Lunn, a lawyer, said marijuana is the starting point for people who go on to
use harder drugs, including heroin, and he wouldn't want to make it easier
for children to head down that road.

MP Jim Gouk (Kootenay--Boundary--Okanagan) said he doesn't support the
legalization of street drugs, "because there are so many impure drugs out
there and so many problems."

Gouk, a former air traffic controller and owner of a residential
construction company, said he "would certainly be open" to the
decriminalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes, after hearing the
medical arguments and finding out what safeguards would be in place.

MP Jim Abbott (Kootenay-Columbia) said he would vote against legalizing
drugs if a vote were held in the Commons.

"I don't need to take it to my constituents," said Abbott.  "I know their
views on the subject."
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MAP posted-by: Don Beck