Pubdate: Tue, 21 Apr 2015
Source: Daily Courier, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/5NyOACet
Website: http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/531
Page: A8

POT GAINS SUPPORT ON THE RIGHT

Marijuana legalization isn't just an idea for potheads, dreamers and
old hippies anymore.

Respectable people are jumping on the legalization bandwagon, too,
with the latest group creating waves in the nation's capital last week.

Called "Canadian Conservatives for Legal Marijuana," the group posted
two billboards, intending to draw attention ahead of "4/20,"
yesterday's traditional celebration day for marijuana smokers.

The group is headed by 17-year Reform/Conservative MP Inky Mark and
claims the support of Conservative MPs Scott Reid and Gerald Keddy,
Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership front runner Patrick
Brown, and other right-leaning thinkers.

The group's catchphrase is "Real Conservatives support legal
marijuana."

Legalizing marijuana, they say, agrees with conservative principles of
lower taxes, smaller government and more focus on personal
responsibility.

"We want to remind (Stephen) Harper's government what real
conservatives stand for," says Mark in the news release. "His personal
crusade against marijuana users is just another expensive, big
government intervention, wasting tax dollars and treating Canadians
like children.

"We believe that marijuana prohibition has failed and that it's time
for a new approach that's more in line with real conservative values."

Growing support on the right for legalization could be a turning
point.

Harper and Justice Minister Peter MacKay sound more and more out of
touch, even with their base, as they claim they'll never consider
legalization and accuse legalization proponents like Justin Trudeau of
pushing drugs on kids.

In fact, one of ideas behind regulating the sale of pot is to make it
harder for children to obtain.

Pot sales in places like Washington state follow the same rules as
liquor sales. No one under age can legally buy the product.
Washington's pot stores require people to show identification at the
door before being allowed to enter.

Like alcohol, it's not a foolproof system, but it could make buying
pot harder for kids, who now have easy access to it on the streets.

Canada should examine the systems in states like Washington and
Colorado and see if their rules for growing and selling marijuana
might be working better than the almost-lawless and ineffective state
of affairs we have going on right now.
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MAP posted-by: Matt