Pubdate: Wed, 23 Sep 2015
Source: Niagara Falls Review, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 Niagara Falls Review
Contact: http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/letters
Website: http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2907
Author: Ray Spiteri
Page: A1

POT QUESTION LIGHTS UP DEBATE

It's a burning issue that created a buzz at a Niagara Falls federal
election debate Monday night.

Candidates from the riding's Conservative, NDP, Liberal and Green
parties were asked if they believe the federal government should
legalize marijuana.

The answers provided a stark contrast between the candidates.

"We are not about to legalize marijuana," incumbent Conservative MP
Rob Nicholson said during the live TVCogeco broadcast.

"We believe there are health risks to young people. We've taken action
against grow ops. We've taken action against people trying to bring
drugs, whether it be marijuana or other drugs, into this country. We
have tightened up the laws. We think (legalization would be) a bad
idea."

NDP candidate Carolynn Ioannoni said she supports her party's
long-standing policy to decriminalize marijuana.

"We don't think a young person should be penalized for their entire
life for being caught with a small portion of marijuana. It shouldn't
ruin their entire future," she said.

Green candidate Steven Soos said there's a "huge difference" between
legalization, which he supports, and decriminalization.

"Legalization is about getting to enjoy cannabis recreationally, and
not having the fear of getting a ticket or going to jail," he said.

"Prison residency has increased 86 per cent since (the Conservative
government) took office and who are in prison? People who enjoy
marijuana. It costs over $85,000 a year to house a prisoner. I mean,
(is that) money well spent or should we just move on to the important
things?"

Soos said there are many health benefits to marijuana, adding "many
parents use cannabis oil for kids who have seizures, people use it for
depression ... anxiety, Crohn's disease.

"It being illegal just doesn't make sense to me when we could be going
after violent crime."

Nicholson took exception to Soos' prison comments.

"Our prisons aren't being filled with people who've smoked a joint at
some point in time. They're being filled by people who have committed
violent crime - the people who molest and attack children, the people
who bring child pornography and drugs into this country. That is who
we have targeted."

Nicholson said he believes if marijuana is legalized, more of it will
end up in the hands of youth.

"I don't think legalization is going to work."

Liberal candidate Ron Planche disagreed, saying the federal
government's existing cannabis policy is "failing.

"The World Health Organization clearly states that Canada has the
highest teenage use of marijuana, so we want to take our current
legislation and just stick our kids in jail if they use it. That's
wrong," he said.

Planche said decriminalization doesn't work because "that just keeps
the production, distribution and proceeds in the hands of gangs and
does nothing to keep it out of the hands of children.

"If you have legalization, then you can regulate it. It's the best way
to keep marijuana out of the hands of children and it will also help
reduce the negative health impacts."

Planche said he's not a smoker and doesn't want to smoke marijuana
"for the various reasons I think smoking is bad for you.

"But at the same time, I don't think we need to put people in jail for
smoking cigarettes and I do believe that science is starting to show
that there are some medicinal purposes for (marijuana). Legalization
allows us to properly control the substance, just like we did with
alcohol. Prohibition has never worked."

Meanwhile, when it comes to the issue of legal, medical marijuana,
Ioannoni said municipalities, such as Niagara Falls, continue to
discuss potential bylaws to control where such operations can operate.

In 2013, the federal government introduced new rules governing
growing, processing and distributing medical marijuana. A licence is
required by Health Canada. To get the licence, an applicant must
obtain a letter from the municipality outlining the zoning for the
property where it will be located.

"Municipalities are looking at ways to put (medical marijuana
facilities) into areas that do not intrude into residential
neighbourhoods, where people do not want their children and their
families being raised beside a grow op," she said.

"I think municipalities need to have a better structure, a stronger
ability, to know when the federal government is issuing a licence
because to know that licence is coming into your community gives the
community the opportunity to deal with it."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt