Pubdate: Fri, 23 Jan 2004
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2004 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact:  http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Greg Joyce

STRONACH CAUTIOUS ON CHANGING POT LAW

VANCOUVER -- Conservative leadership candidate Belinda Stronach warned 
yesterday of the economic threat posed by proposals to decriminalize marijuana.

The 37-year-old businesswoman told an offbeat Vancouver radio show that 
liberalizing pot use would lead to more searches and delays in the flow of 
goods at the U.S. border.

"I think it's a bigger issue than we're willing to admit," she told JACK-FM 
on the popular morning Larry and Willy show.

"If we were to decriminalize marijuana I think our great neighbour to the 
south would have a lot of problems with that and I think it would very much 
affect the Canadian economy."

Stronach said more than $500 billion worth of goods are shipped between the 
two countries each year.

She appeared nervous when she walked into the tiny studio crowded with 
reporters and photographers. The hosts themselves conceded on air 
afterwards that they were also taken aback by the attention, saying they 
had never seen that much media in their studio during their 18 years as a team.

One caller asked the former chief executive officer of auto parts giant 
Magna International how much weight she could bench press and her current 
marital status.

"She's pretty hot and I'm wondering if she's married," said another caller.

Stronach joked she wouldn't be lining up any dates over the phone.

Stronach, who is divorced, said her 10-year-old daughter and 12-year-old 
son are also intrigued by her run.

"His friend Adam said to him, 'I heard they were talking about your mom on 
the radio and they were talking about her being hot and sexy' and my son 
was cracking up and having a hard time thinking of his mom being hot and 
sexy." She was asked the inevitable marijuana question now facing all 
politicians: did she smoke pot and did she inhale?

"Yeah, I grew up in a regular, you know, environment, went to high school."

"You inhaled?" asked Willy.

"I don't really remember," said Stronach, appearing uncomfortable.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens