Pubdate: Thu, 05 Sep 2002 Source: Prince George Citizen (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 Prince George Citizen Contact: http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/350 Author: Karen Kwan Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) POT LEGALIZATION PLAN PANNED IN P.G. Senate Committee Recommendation Goes Too Far, Say Area MPs, Police A Senate committee's recommendation to legalize marijuana was largely greeted with staunch opposition in Prince George. The 600-page report released Wednesday goes far beyond past debate about decriminalizing possession of the drug. By legalizing the use of pot for anyone over the age of 16, as recommended by the Senate committee, sale and cultivation of the drug would be regulated by government, much like alcohol is. Decriminalization, on the other hand, would see small-time users handed a fine, similar to a parking ticket, rather than being criminally charged and forced through the courts. The senators also called for an amnesty for Canadians who have been convicted of crimes for simple possession of cannabis, and recommended easier access to medicinal marijuana. Prince George-Peace River MP Jay Hill supports decriminalization but said he would not back a proposal to legalize marijuana. "I'm personally opposed to full legalization. I think the majority of people would also be opposed to it," said the Alliance member. Making it legal for someone as young as 16 to smoke pot is troublesome, he said, because it could encourage youths to take up the habit. Hill said he's interested in the findings of an all-party Commons committee that's studying illicit drug use, and which is expected to issue a report in November. Senators, he noted, are appointed and therefore not accountable to the public. Alliance colleague Prince George-Bulkley Valley MP Dick Harris said he's also opposed to making marijuana legal. "I'm not comfortable with the effects of marijuana in relation to a number of things, like people's behaviour and the ability to drive safely," he said. Harris said he's not in favour of even decriminalization, saying a previous mail-out survey of constituents agreed with his position, but added that he supports controlled use for medicinal purposes. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program, which teaches youths about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, maintains its stance against substance use, said DARE B.C. president Tom Griffiths of Prince George. "The goal of the DARE program is to encourage people, particularly young people, not to have that lifestyle, so to endorse legalization would go against what it's all about," he said. "There's enough research to show that drugs, whether they're considered hard or soft, can be harmful," he said. DARE B.C. has previously panned the concept of decriminalizing marijuana. Supt. Mike Morris of North District RCMP said the force is open to looking at other methods of reducing drug use, besides charging people with crimes for possession of small amounts. The current system has been largely ineffective, leading to poor use of police and court time, he said. "If there's other, more effective means I'd like to explore those with the federal government," he said. But Morris added, "We don't condone any kind of substance that has led to abuse." B.C. Marijuana party president Marc Emery, who advocated legalization at a Senate-committee hearing in Richmond this spring, said he sees the report as an unequivocal endorsement of his party's beliefs. "I'm elated. I'm surprised. I expected a recommendation for decriminalization but also keeping everything else illegal," he said from Vancouver. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake