Pubdate: Tue, 28 Apr 2015
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Vancouver 24 hrs.
Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/letters
Website: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: Bill Tieleman
Page: 4

DISPENSE WITH THE REEFER MADNESS

"Once you legalize something, you normalize it. When you normalize it,
the message is that it's safe and marijuana is not safe for young
people." - Conservative Health Minister Rona Ambrose

So let's be blunt about blunts - marijuana will be consumed by a
significant portion of the Canadian population regardless of the laws)

while trying to score political points with its rightwing base. But
even some Conservative voters can't be happywiththisham-handed
approach to marijuana - or Ambrose's obvious attempt to paint the
opposition as drug fiends pushing dope to kids.

Fortunately, Vancouver council is taking a more sensible course by
proposing regulations for the 80 medicinal marijuana dispensaries that
have sprung up since the federal government in 2014 banned pot
cultivation by patients with a prescription.

Proposed city regulations - a steep $30,000 annual licensing fee and
staying 300 metres away from schools, community centres and other
dispensaries - ensure some responsibility instead of chaos. Marijuana
is anathema to Prime Minister Stephen Harper'sConservatives, but an
Angus Reid poll last year found59% ofCanadiansand 70% of British
Columbians backed legalization.

Ambrose, however, doesn't care about the majoritywho favour ending the
criminal prohibition on marijuana.

"I would not support a Justin Trudeau Canada, where what's happening
in downtown Vancouver [is repeated elsewhere] where pot dispensaries
are opening up on corners. They are notregulated," Ambrosetold CBC
Radio host Stephen Quinn on Friday.

Attacking Liberal Leader Trudeau - who supports legalization - or New
Democrat leader Tom Mulcair - who backs decriminalization - as the
problem insults voters' intelligence and their desire for a sensible
solution.

Andwith bothWashington State and Colorado legalizing marijuana, even a
Conservative cabinet minister should be able to tell whichway theweed
wind is blowing.

So let's be blunt about blunts - marijuana will be consumed by a
significant portion of the Canadian population regardless of the laws.
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson's regulation solution - in the
absence of leadership from the Conservative government - is both
welcome and necessary. Pretending the marijuana mess will vanish into
thin air by either ignoring it or putting pot users in prison is far
more delusional than you can get even by toking up.

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Bill Tieleman is a former NDP strategist.
Read his blog at http:// billtieleman.blogspot.comor
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MAP posted-by: Matt