LIBERALS' YOUTH WING REJECTS MOTION ON DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

AUGUSTIN-DE-DESMAURES, Quebec (AP) - By a slim majority, the Quebec
Liberals' youth wing defeated a resolution Sunday to support the
decriminalization of marijuana. The result was 89 votes in favor of
the resolution and 110 votes against on the last day of the youth
wing's annual conference.

The resolution - which called for the legalization of marijuana for
"use in private places only by people 18 years of age and older" -
overshadowed the conference's intended theme of globalization.
However, in the end most delegates decided the resolution held too
many risks. The youths, ranging in age from 16 to 25, discussed
issues such as the health risks associated with marijuana, the lack
of studies on its benefits, the political consequences of
legalization and the risk of encouraging criminal behavior.

Quebec Liberal Leader Jean Charest said Saturday he is in favor of
medicinal marijuana use, but that is all. He said that going further
would be imprudent. Following the vote Sunday, Charest joked that
"the idea hasn't gone up in smoke." He said he believes the debate
over marijuana will continue to make headlines across Canada.