POT PROPONENTS PROTEST BILL C-26

A small knot of protesters gathered outside Nanaimo-Alberni MP James
Lunney's office Monday to protest the federal government's proposed
anti-drug law.

The protest, organized by former Marijuana Party candidate Mick Mann,
drew about a dozen people. However, the small turnout didn't
discourage Mann, who noted the action was part of a nation-wide
protest against Bill C-26, which would impose minimum sentences for
people who grow marijuana.

"This was part of a Canada-wide day of action," Mann said. "This bill
will mean six-month, mandatory sentences for growing a single
marijuana plant. It's only going to completely fill up our prisons
with non-violent offenders."

Mann said a study by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse showed
Canada spent $5.5 billion in 2004 on prohibition.

"Despite that, we haven't made any dent in the drug trade," Mann said.
"It's not working. If you spent that much money and it's not working,
what makes you think throwing more money after bad is going to change
anything?"

Lunney's office was closed during the demonstration, but in a prepared
statement, Lunney defended his government's stand on the issue.

"Our message has been clear," he said. "If you are an addict, we will
help you, but if your produce or sell drugs that exploit addicts, you
will pay the price."

Lunney also cited figures from the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse,
these ones showing that in 1992, the costs associated with substance
abuse in Canada totalled $9 billion in such areas as health care, law
enforcement, prosecution and incarceration.

He noted Bill C-26 goes hand-in-hand with the government's new $64
million National Drug Strategy, where over two thirds of the funding
is targeted towards treatment and prevention.

"Our government knows what is important to Canadians - the safety and
security of their families and communities," he said. "Drug producers
and dealers who threaten the safety of our communities must face
tougher penalties. We are going to toughen up on crime, but continue
to be compassionate towards victims."

Lunney said substance abuse is a problem with devastating health,
social and public safety consequences that undermine healthy families
and safe communities.

"The message to producers, to dealers and those who exploit vulnerable
segments of our society is: if you are charged you will receive due
process. If you are convicted, you are going to do time." This didn't
go over well with Mann, however.

"You can't force treatment on someone," he said. "They have to want
help for any treatment to be effective. Unless people want to take
advantage of it, it's doomed to failure. People just go out and
re-offend. Drug addiction is a health issue and should be treated as
such."

Mann also took exception to marijuana being lumped in with other
illegal drugs.

"When people talk about marijuana and the rest of these drugs, you
muddy the situation," he said. "The people who came out today, all
spoke in favour of cannabis, but nobody is in favour of
methamphetamine or cocaine. It's the difference between apples and
oranges."

Mann suggested rather than asking whether marijuana should be
legalized, a different question might be more appropriate.

"Do you think the sale and distribution of marijuana should be left in
the hands of criminals?" he asked. "Most people would say absolutely
not, and if so, there's only one solution, legalization and
regulation, much like we have for alcohol."