Pubdate: Wed, 12 Aug 2015
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2015 Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact: http://www.edmontonsun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.edmontonsun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Don Peat
Page: 4

PM FIRM ON DRUGS

'Most Canadians' don't want marijuana legalized, Harper says

When it comes to legalizing marijuana, Conservative Leader Stephen
Harper is just saying no and he thinks "most Canadians" agree. Harper
warned voters Tuesday that only a Conservative government would
maintain a tough stance on marijuana and supervised injection sites.
Both the Liberals and NDP have come out in favour of loosening the
laws around marijuana but Harper argued that was the "wrong direction
for society."

"The truth of the matter is, most Canadians - you actually ask them -
do not want the full legalization of marijuana," Harper said. "When
you go down that route, marijuana becomes more readily available to
children, more people become addicted to it and the health outcomes
become worse.

"I think it is actually tragic, in fact, we have more and more data
about the consequences of long-term marijuana use and how really bad
they are for health on so many levels."

The prime minister delivered his anti-drug comments during a campaign
stop in Markham where he pledged $5 million more for Canada's National
Anti-Drug Strategy if the Conservatives were re-elected in October.
Around $500,000 would go towards a national toll-free anti-drug
helpline for parents while $4.5 million would give a 20% budget bump
to the RCMP's clandestine drug lab teams.

The Liberals swung back at Harper's pot comments.

"Stephen Harper's approach to drugs is failing our children," Hedy
Fry, Liberal Party candidate for Vancouver Centre, said in a
statement. "According to a WHO report, Canada has the highest teen
marijuana usage amongst all countries surveyed, and the current system
serves to fund gangs and criminal elements.

"The Liberal solution is clear: If we pass smart laws that tax and
strictly regulate marijuana, we can better protect our kids, while
preventing millions of dollars from going into the pockets of criminal
organizations and street gangs."

Murray Rankin, the NDP candidate in Victoria, stressed drug policy
should be "based on evidence."

"New Democrats have long said that no one should be going to jail or
be stuck with a criminal record for possession of marijuana for
personal use," Rankin said. "When it comes to marijuana, we need an
approach that focuses on health promotion, public education, and
safety. That's why we're calling for a study that would examine the
issue fully before making further changes."

- - with files from the Canadian Press
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt