Pubdate: Thu, 03 Jan 2013
Source: Kamloops This Week (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Kamloops This Week
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1271
Author: Andrea Klassen

The Year-End Interview

MP MCLEOD NOT YET SET TO GO GREEN

It may be legal in Washington and Colorado, and B.C.'s mayors and 
councillors may be calling for it above the border, but marijuana 
isn't likely to get the same treatment from the Conservative 
government in 2013.

Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod said there's no plan to 
loosen restrictions around pot - and doesn't think much of the idea herself.

"I personally have looked at some of the research that's more recent 
and have some concerns in terms of the health impacts that are 
becoming more and more known," she told KTW during an end-of-the-year 
interview.

In particular, McLeod said, she's concerned about the impact 
marijuana may have on mental health, given a number of recent studies 
that have strengthened the link between marijuana use and schizophrenia.

"I think there's a lot of unknowns and, really to legalize a 
substance that has significant potential for harm isn't where we're 
planning to go right now."

Instead, McLeod said, the federal government will focus on changes to 
its medical-marijuana system, announced recently by Health Minister 
Leona Aglukkaq.

The proposed system will set up a network of commercial pot growers 
to supply those with marijuana prescriptions. Under the current 
system, patients can choose to get a licence to grow their own at 
home, or have a friend grow for them - a setup that hasn't found 
favour with local governments that must field complaints from angry neighbours.

Health Canada expects the new set of pot regulations will almost 
double the cost of medical pot - to almost $9 a gram from $5 a gram.

The government is accepting public comments on the changes until Feb. 28, 2013.

McLeod, too, has been doing some public consultation lately.

In her last mailout to the riding, she included a questionnaire 
asking for constituents' thoughts on pipelines.

So far, she said, the results are somewhat surprising.

"Often, when I send these messages out, people that are concerned are 
very apt to make their opinions heard - but, in this case, it was 
close to 70 per cent saying we support pipelines," she said.

The survey was sent to every home in the riding and has generated 
about 1,000 responses so far, McLeod said.

The questions didn't discuss specific pipeline projects, but asked 
for a general opinion of them with space for comments.

"I'm the first to admit these are not scientifically designed 
surveys, but what they do provide is a snapshot," she said.

Generally, positive responses included some sort of caveat - 
responsible environmental management being a big one.

That's in line with McLeod's own stated view on proposed projects 
like Enbridge's Northern Gateway line and Kinder Morgan's 
TransMountain expansion.

"I believe we need to have an environmentally sound assessment 
process and we need to let those processes happen with the National 
Energy Board," she said. "If it meets sound environmental 
requirements, then I think we need to find access."

McLeod said oil access is a critical issue for the country's future prosperity.

"Whether a pipeline goes east, west, south or north, if it meets 
strong environmental standards, I support them."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom