Pubdate: Fri, 02 Oct 2015
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Bethany Lindsay
Page: A6
Referenced: Users and Non-Users Across Canada Support Marijuana 
Legalization: http://mapinc.org/url/gkCtT1E2

SUDDENLY, MARIJUANA IS OFF THE RADAR

Even Supporters of Legalization Put Economy, Health Care, Environment First

It was a full two months before this election was called that the 
Conservatives introduced marijuana as a campaign issue, unveiling an 
ad that attacked Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau's pledge to legalize weed.

"Legalizing marijuana - is that the biggest problem we have to 
solve?" the Tory ad scoffed.

Apparently not. All three major federal parties agree drug laws are 
not the biggest problem we have, and the issue has essentially fallen 
off the radar in favour of debate about the economy, jobs, refugees, 
and the clothing choices of Muslim women.

For marijuana activist Jodie Emery, that's a big letdown.

"It is disappointing to see that it's being looked at as kind of a 
side issue. I think it's a lot more important than people realize, 
and if we were to point to Colorado or Washington state ... we would 
see that the tax revenue and the job creation is quite impressive," 
she said. "It does relate directly to jobs and the economy and health 
care and the main concerns of most voters."

Emery had hoped to run for the Liberals in Vancouver East, and would 
have made legalization a cornerstone of her campaign, but the party 
rejected her nomination application.

She still plans to vote Liberal, calling the NDP's support of 
decriminalization instead of full legalization "wishy-washy." While 
the Greens also want to legalize, they have little chance of forming 
a government, and Emery believes it's crucial to support a party with 
the potential to dethrone the hardline anti-legalization Conservatives.

About two-thirds of British Columbians support marijuana 
legalization, according to the latest numbers from Insights West, 
with agreement across all age groups.

"A lot of people who want to see it legalized are not even users, but 
they think that it's a good way to generate some revenues. There 
might even be some small-c conservative voters who see some benefit 
in legalization," said Mario Canseco, Insights West's vice-president 
of public affairs.

But even if most people believe pot should be legal, the issue ranks 
low on their priority lists, below things like the economy, health 
care and the environment.

According to Canseco, it was likely smart for Harper to assert his 
stance on marijuana early in the campaign.

"If they were to come out against marijuana right now, it would 
probably be distracting from the core issues that they need to win 
the election," he said.

It could even turn off some of the libertarian voters and soft-right 
voters who are interested in the economic potential of legal 
marijuana. That's why Stephen Harper has carefully limited his 
discussion of the pot issue to reach audiences more inclined to 
support his approach.

"When the prime minister visited Richmond, he made it a point to talk 
about the fact that his government was never going to legalize 
marijuana," Canseco said. "It's the perfect place to do it. Our 
research has shown that the one group in B.C. that definitely 
despises legalizing marijuana is (ethnic) Chinese residents."

NDP candidates have also found themselves in a bit of a tricky 
position when it comes to marijuana. With early polls pegging leader 
Tom Mulcair as the front-runner, the pressure was on to maintain 
voters' support and even lure some voters away from the Conservatives.

"This is one of the difficulties for the NDP. Can you place your 
policies in a spectrum that makes them palatable for the small-c 
conservatives who want change, but at the same time not alienate your 
hardcore base?" Canseco said.

Still, the party's attempt to bridge the left-right gap on marijuana 
isn't likely to lose them many votes, according to David Moscrop, a 
political scientist at the University of B.C.

"If I can be ever so slightly cynical, I would be surprised - and 
this doesn't just apply to the base of the NDP, this applies to a 
number of voters - if most voters would pick up on" the distinction 
between legalization, which allows for regulation and taxation, and 
decriminalization, which simply eliminates the criminal penalties for 
drug offences, Moscrop said.

For Conservatives, the best bet is to talk about illegal drugs as a 
threat to the country's security. That may explain the recent Health 
Canada threats to bring in the Mounties and shut down dispensaries in B.C.

For the rest of the parties, the best angle to take is one of fairness.

"By saying this is costing us money in drug enforcement and policing 
- - that people are getting criminal records over this and that's a 
waste - that might play well with people, because fairness resonates 
with Canadians," Moscrop said.

For Emery, the most important thing right now is to push marijuana 
users to vote, period.

"Typically, a lot of people don't vote, and it's not because they're 
lazy marijuana smokers, it's because they don't trust the system or 
government and so they don't want to engage in it or appear to 
endorse the government," she said.

"I keep reminding them that's foolish, that's not going to help 
anyone. It may be a crummy system, but it's the one that exists and 
governs our lives."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom