Pubdate: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 Source: Telegram, The (CN NF) Copyright: 2002 The Telegram Contact: http://www.thetelegram.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/303 GRIMES IN FAVOUR OF LEGALIZING POT Premier Roger Grimes not only favours decriminalizing marijuana use, he thinks it should be legalized, produced in factories and taxed like tobacco to pay for services like health care. Grimes, who admitted to experimenting with pot in his youth, said it's a federal matter to decide. "I'm saying if I ever were to run federally, I'd probably put in my plank that we should not only decriminalize it, we should legalize it -- have it produced in factories and plants, raise some revenues from it and treat it the same as alcohol. Put an age limit on it and recognize there's some use of it out there, make it safer, make some money from it," he told reporters Wednesday. Legislation In New Year On Monday, federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon said Ottawa wanted to move quickly on the issue and could bring in legislation early in the new year to decriminalize pot use. Grimes said, however, pot didn't turn him on. "I experimented with it way back in university days -- that's over 30 years ago for me. I didn't like it. It didn't do anything for me." Opposition Tory Leader Danny Williams won't say whether he favours decriminalizing marijuana until he discusses it with his caucus. "I don't think it would be fair for me right now to speak outside the caucus. We do operate as a caucus on issues like that," said Williams, who said he's also "experimented." "For about 10 seconds I did use it, yes," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth