Pubdate: Wed, 07 May 2003
Source: Guelph Mercury (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003 Guelph Mercury Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.guelphmercury.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1418

SNOWBOARDER ROSS REBAGLIATI SAYS MARIJUANA SHOULD BE DECRIMINALIZED

TORONTO (CP) - Pot has been part of Ross Rebagliati's public image since 
winning his Olympic gold medal in snowboarding and he didn't shy away from 
the issue Wednesday when asked if marijuana should be decriminalized.

"Absolutely," said Rebagliati. "Right now the whole idea of it being 
decriminalized makes the legal system function at a level that it should be 
functioning at and not clogging up the courts and the judicial system and 
even jails or whatever for something like that.

"It's becoming more socially accepted now than it ever had been in the 
past. I think right now it's almost the sign of the times."

The 31-year-old from Whistler, B.C., was in Toronto at a downtown Roots 
store to promote Vancouver's bid for the 2010 Olympic Games.

Rebagliati was initially stripped of his snowboarding gold in 1998 in 
Nagano, Japan, after testing positive for marijuana, but the medal was 
reinstated on appeal.

At the time, Rebagliati said he hadn't smoked up for almost a year and that 
he was a victim of second-hand smoke at a party.

He avoided talking about decriminalization then, but the issue has been in 
the news in recent weeks and Rebagliati was frank when asked about it 
Wednesday.

"It's up to the politicians to decide still," he said. "It's something that 
comes up. It's not every day that you hear the prime minister talking about 
decriminalization and I think in the recent weeks, everybody has been 
talking about it."

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon and Prime Minister Jean Chretien have both 
said the Liberal government will introduce legislation soon to 
decriminalize possession of small amounts of pot for personal use.

And there are cases before the Supreme Court of Canada, appealing 
convictions for breaking pot laws on the basis that those laws infringe on 
the Charter of Rights.

While Rebagliati and his lifestyle have benefited from the long shelf life 
of his Olympic story and his medal, publicly admitting he smoked marijuana 
has thrown a crimp in his life and it was part of the reason he retired 
from competitive racing.

He's not allowed into the United States. He needed a letter written by 
Roots co-founder Michael Budman to American authorities to get over the 
border to Salt Lake City to watch the 2002 Olympics.

He hasn't been to Europe since his competitive racing days ended but he 
believes there would be problems travelling there and he knows for certain 
going to Australia would be a problem.

"They use the same computer files and information," he said.

"It's a big problem actually. I can't compete in snowboarding anymore 
because I can't get down to the States. Corporately, it's definitely a blow."

He is trying to get the travel ban lifted.

"I have a lawyer in Vancouver who is pursuing it for me," he said. "Right 
now I'm just trying to play the cards right and not ruffle too many 
feathers on the U.S. side of things."

Meanwhile, Rebagliati has a number of eclectic interests.

"I don't want to jump into a nine to five job or jump behind a desk right 
away," he said. "I've got time right now to pursue more unrealistic things."

He's become a golf addict, started racing stock cars, leads snowboard tours 
in Whistler and he's building a house in Whistler with his girlfriend.

He has dabbled in real estate the last few years and is considering 
obtaining his agent's licence because "you just have to sell one $5-million 
house a year, and that's pretty easy right?" he said with a grin.

He has sponsorship deals with Roots, Salomon snowboards, Bonfire clothing 
and the Ben Hogan golf company.

He raced stock cars for the first time last summer and has aspirations of 
reaching the CASCAR level.

"My first race that I ever did and it was the first time I was even in the 
car and I passed a guy, right," he said. "It doesn't seem like much to pass 
a guy but when you've got like 15 rednecks out there who have been driving 
for 10 years and their stock car is their most valuable possession and to 
pass one of them on my first time in a stock car, everybody was pretty 
excited about it. It was just a rush."

He was scheduled to star in a movie shot last month in Montreal - he was to 
play a famous snowboarder forced to share accommodations with a rock star 
at a snowboard event - but production has been delayed.

"I think there's probably a chance that it might happen still," said 
Rebagliati. "I'm not devastated it didn't happen, but if it comes back up, 
I'll be available.

"All these sorts of opportunities that are showing up. I haven't said no to 
any of them. I'll get into anything."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Alex