Pubdate: Sat, 05 Mar 2005
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Stephanie Rubec
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

YOUTH DEFEND LEGALIZED POT

Resolution Faces Growing Opposition After Mounties' Slaying

THE influential youth wing of the federal Liberal Party defended its push 
for the legalization of marijuana yesterday, arguing against claims it'll 
put police in more danger. The Alberta-born resolution, to be voted on 
today at the Liberal policy convention in Ottawa, is facing a growing tide 
of protest from opponents, who are urging the Grit youth contingent to pull 
its support in light of Thursday's slaying of four Mounties at a marijuana 
grow op north of Edmonton.

Young Liberal president Richard Diamond called on delegates to rein in 
their emotions during today's debate on the resolution, which calls for the 
feds to legalize marijuana.

"The debate is going to have to be very respectful, considering the 
circumstances," Diamond said, referring to the Mounties' deaths.

"The recent events are going to have to be taken into consideration. I see 
that the discussion is going to hopefully lead to a solution."

The resolution calls on the feds to take charge of selling pot and slap 
"large taxes" on weed sales.

It also stipulates that tax revenue be used to educate young Canadians 
against using drugs and to pay for addiction treatment.

'Serious Regulation'

"What we need to keep in mind is that prohibition didn't work for alcohol 
and it's not working for marijuana," Diamond said.

"We need serious regulation on marijuana so that this kind of violence and 
this kind of black market ... will cease."

Bryan West, a young Liberal vice-president from Alberta, insisted 
legalizing pot would put an end to violence linked to drugs, noting it 
would allow the feds to gain control of the quality and flow of marijuana.

"We're trying to prevent the proliferation of this drug that is extremely 
common and extremely easy to use," West said. "You would take it out of the 
hands of drug dealers and put it in the hands of government."

But Liberal MP Dan McTeague warned that a show of support for legalizing 
marijuana would send the wrong message.

McTeague called for delegates to lend their support to another resolution, 
from B.C., that advocates a minimum sentence of more than two years for 
grow operators.

"Given the social concern and now the real political concern over the death 
of these police officers ... I think we have to stay focused on marijuana 
grow operations," McTeague said. "Those who are making the argument for 
legalization have absolutely no understanding of the potency of the product 
they're advocating, let alone who's manufacturing it."

Calgary delegate Brian Edy said legalizing pot is treading on dangerous 
ground, but suspects the resolution will pass, given the large size of the 
youth delegation attending the convention.
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