Pubdate: Tue, 22 May 2007 Source: Helsingin Sanomat International Edition (Finland) Copyright: 2007, Helsingin Sanomat Contact: http://www.helsinki-hs.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1158 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) LEFT ALLIANCE YOUTH ORGANISATION WANTS TO LEGALISE USE OF CANNABIS Party Chairman Sticks To Zero Tolerance The youth organisation of the opposition Left Alliance Party, the Left Youth of Finland, has narrowly passed a resolution calling for the legalisation of the use and home cultivation of cannabis. The decision came at a convention of the organisation this past weekend. The initiative won by two votes. One of those voting against the measure was Jussi Saramo, who was re-elected as President of the group. In his view, the matter should have been given more consideration, and should have been debated in a broader context of policy toward intoxicants, with input from experts in the field. "However, as chairman, I stand behind the decision", he added. The decision was not a big change to the organisation's previous policy line on drugs; Saramo noted that an earlier statement on drug policy issued by the Left Youth states that there should be no punishments for personal use and home cultivation of cannabis. However, the policy line, accepted four years ago, stated "Cannabis should not be legalised in Finland". Now the executive of the organisation will have to update that document. "We don't need any more drugs, but victimising the users does not help", Saramo says. Left Alliance Chairman Matti Korhonen says that the party is distancing itself from the vies of its youth organisation. In his view, holding a vote at a convention is not the right way to decide on such big matters. "The party's starting point is one of zero tolerance", Korhonen notes. He added, however, that he welcomes drug policy debate as such. In November the chairman of the Satakunta section of the Left Youth of Finland was sentenced by Pori District Court to a fine for growing and smoking marijuana. An aide to a Left Alliance MP, who lived in the same commune, but was not convicted in the case, was nevertheless not allowed by the party to run as a candidate in the Parliamentary elections in March. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman