Pubdate: Tue, 16 Sep 2003
Source: Packet & Times (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003, Osprey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.orilliapacket.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2397
Author: Colin McKim

GREEN'S PRUESSE IMPRESSES WITH POT TALK

Local News - If elections were decided by applause meters in high school 
gymnasiums, Green party candidate Nina Pruesse could be Simcoe North's next 
representative at Queen's Park.

When Pruesse told 850 Park Street Collegiate students that her party would 
legalize marijuana she received by far the loudest applause and cheering 
during a political forum Monday morning.

Pruesse was responding to a question from a student during an 
all-candidates debate in the school gymnasium.

Though drug laws are a federal responsibility, provincial candidates in 
Simcoe North were happy to lay out their national policies for the students.

The Liberal party does not favour legalization, but supports 
decriminalization of small amounts of the drug, said Liberal candidate Paul 
Sloan.

"That offence should not carry a criminal record through your life."

Instead possession of small quantities of marijuana should be punished by 
fines, said Sloan, who received a slightly less enthusiastic applause than 
Pruesse.

NDP candidate John Niddery said treating small quantities differently than 
large amounts is inconsistent. "Either it's legal or it's not. We have to 
come to a consensus, just like they did with alcohol."

Niddery's answer received polite applause.

Simcoe North incumbent Garfield Dunlop did not attend the forum, so his 
views were not expressed or tested on the applause meter.

Despite the enthusiastic applause for legalization by the student body, 
individual students interviewed after the forum opposed the idea for the 
most part.

Grade 12 student Luc Robertson said decriminalizing pot could lead to more 
impaired driving.

"If you're driving and high, there's a better chance of an accident," said 
Robertson. "It should be a criminal offence."

Grade 11 student Krista Doubrough says she's seen good kids' lives ruined 
by smoking too much dope.

"They get in with the wrong crowd. It affects their school work."

Laura Cutler was the only student interviewed to support complete 
legalization. "It's all about freedom and the right to choose," Cutler said. 
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom