LEGAL POT A LIBERAL CASH COW - GOLDRING

Just want 'discussion,' counters justice minister

The Liberals are opening discussions on legalizing marijuana because
it's a potential taxation "cash cow," charges a Canadian Alliance MP.

But an infuriated Justice Minister Anne McLellan said yesterday that
the suggestion from Edmonton Centre MP Peter Goldring is
"irresponsible" and a "misrepresentation" of her stance.

McLellan said she's open to talking about decriminalizing or
legalizing pot as part of discussions going on in a Senate committee
and a new House of Commons committee struck to examine non-medicinal
drugs in Canada.

"That's very cavalier of her," Goldring said yesterday. "But I think
that she should be a little more cautious.

"That's letting the winds blow on whether it will be legalized or not
and I think that's very irresponsible of her."

McLellan said it's Goldring who's being irresponsible. "My views have
been plain. I do not support decriminalization and I do not support
legalization, but I do support a discussion among Canadians," she said.

The House of Commons committee is an all-party body - "including Mr.
Goldring's," said the minister.

"I was just talking to (Canadian Alliance MP) Randy White in the
airport in Toronto (on Friday) and, in fact, Randy is looking forward
to engaging Canadians in this discussion around where we go in this
area."

The government should figure out how to fix the kinks in its
distribution of medicinal marijuana before it takes on
decriminalization or legalization, Goldring said.

The move raises other issues - like the question of policing marijuana
smokers who get behind the wheel, he said.

"Let's just open the floodgates and let it rip, if people - well, I
guess it wouldn't be people - if the Liberals voted in favour of it."
Goldring said McLellan is "trial-ballooning" the issue and appears
ready to move ahead.

Legalizing pot would allow the government to levy a fat tax on it, he
said.

"Unfortunately, the way things do go is that some small-minded people
view this very simplistically as a cash cow, and that would be
shameful if that was to happen," he said.

City Coun. Allan Bolstad, who championed the city's strict new
anti-smoking bylaw, said the city would treat legal pot smoking just
the way it does tobacco now.

"I don't see the idea of (legalization) as terribly positive," he
said.

"There are still health concerns, and we're doing our best to
discourage people from smoking anything."

One local hemp merchant said he doubts legalization would lead to a
boom in hydroponics operations in Edmonton - although he suspects
local coffee shops and liquor stores might start selling the stuff.

"The federal government would probably keep the supplies small through
licensing," said Benjamin Currie of True North Hemp, 10260 82 Ave. "At
least the price would drop."