PRAISE, FLAK FOR NDP POT RESOLUTION

Marijuana Decriminalization Endorsement At Convention Won'T Affect
Policy: Quennell

REGINA -- The provincial NDP's endorsement of a resolution backing
decriminalization of marijuana laws at last weekend's party convention
in Saskatoon drew both praise and scorn on Monday.

But NDP Justice Minister Frank Quennell says the resolution will have
no effect on actions by the provincial government.

The resolution, which was supported by party members, calls for the
provincial NDP to support the federal party's call for a "non-punitive
approach to cannabis law, including all penalties for personal
cultivation and possession by adults, and actively work to institute
non-punitive cannabis policies at the provincial level." Quennell said
he's not sure what the resolution means, since drug laws and drug
prosecutions are both federal responsibilities.

"Police offi cers, prosecutors, judges, whether they're Crown
prosecutors appointed by the province or judges appointed by the
province, they're sworn to uphold the laws of Canada, whatever they
might be. Saskatchewan can't change a federal law by subversion, if
that's what's intended here.

That we wouldn't enforce federal law, then I'm against that," he said
in an interview on the weekend.

"I believe the people who are in a position to administer the law
should administer the law. If you don't like the law, you either as a
legislator vote to change it or as a citizen you vote for a party that
undertakes to change the law." Benn Greer, the president of
eNDProhibition Saskatchewan, the provincial branch of the "unof-fi
cial anti-prohibition wing" of the party, said in an interview he
agrees with Quennell about the need to enforce laws as they exist.

But he helped push forward the resolution because he believes the
provincial party can help advocate to the federal Conservative
government to decriminalize marijuana.

"It's a first step in a long process, I think," said Greer, a former
ministerial assistant to Premier Lorne Calvert who is now a personal
chef in Regina.

"It isn't a good thing for everyone to smoke (marijuana). But . . .
punishing both chronic and casual users with criminal sanctions and
ruining the chances of getting a job, travelling abroad, things like
that, is just wrong." Quennell said decriminalization is clearly not
on the Conservative radar in any case. He said the provincial
government has acknowledged in the past there are issues around the
punishment for marijuana possession.

"There's a lot of details about where you draw lines. There's no
question that I think most Canadians, if they realized what the
maximum sentence was for simple possession, would like to see some
change," he said.

NDP provincial secretary Doug Still said he didn't think it was likely
the party would take much of an advocacy role on marijuana
decriminalization.

The Saskatchewan Marijuana Party, which was registered as a provincial
party seven months ago, issued a news release Monday praising the NDP
for the resolution and said it would work with the party "to turn this
resolution into reality."

Liberal Leader David Karwacki also weighed in the issue, criticizing
the NDP for allowing eNDProhibition to run an advertisement on the
back of its convention program. While the former federal Liberal
government had planned on decriminalizing marijuana, Karwacki said the
NDP appears to be advocating legalization and the use of marijuana.

Among others, the ad quotes federal leader Jack Layton as saying the
party favours a "legal environment where people can enjoy marijuana in
the peace and quiet of their own home, or in a cafe, without the fear
of being criminalized." "I don't think it's appropriate," said Karwacki.

But Still said the organization has the right to advocate to change
laws and the provincial party does not believe in censorship.