Pubdate: Tue, 20 May 2014
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Page: 5
Copyright: 2014 Vancouver 24 hrs.
Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/letters
Website: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: Ada Slivinski
Cited: Sensible BC: http://www.sensiblebc.ca

PRO-POT GROUP PROTESTS KENNEDY SPEECH

A former U.S. politician set to speak out against marijuana
legalization in Vancouver is facing opposition from the city's pro-pot
crowd.

Pro-legalization group Sensible BC's Dana Larsen said he plans to buy
tickets to the Vancouver Board of Trade's event on marijuana in the
workplace, where former U. S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy - a strong
opponent of legalization - is slated to speak.

"We'd have to see if they'd sell us a table or let us in," said
Larsen. Kennedy was in Vancouver Friday, and Larsen and several other
supporters of Sensible BC protested outside the Gastown restaurant
where the member of the prominent U.S. political family spoke at a
private lunch.

Kennedy, a recovering drug addict, said there is much Canada can learn
from the mistakes of the United States with respect to
legalization.

"We're both facing the same challenge to the public health,
particularly for our young people because of the proliferation of
marijuana under the guise of medical marijuana and, God forbid,
legalization, is going to impact the future generations because of the
developing brain," he said.

Larsen said Friday, "We're tired of American politicians coming here
and telling us how we need to deal with our marijuana policy." No new
date has been set for the VBOT event, which was originally planned for
last Friday, but has been postponed.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D