MARIJUANA QUESTION SMOKES OUT CANDIDATES

Among the questions raised at an Ottawa-Vanier all-candidates debate
last night, one made the candidates blush: Have you ever smoked marijuana?

"Do I have judicial protection in this room?" asked Green party
candidate Raphael Thierrin. "I have smoked marijuana and I continue
to smoke marijuana," he declared, to laughter and applause.

"We think that decriminalizing marijuana will help prevent some crime."

About 150 people attended the meeting at the University of Ottawa,
which was organized by student groups.

The questioner noted that hundreds of thousands of Canadians smoke
marijuana, yet thousands each year are charged with possession and
acquire a criminal record.

"Even though I was a former musician, I never smoked marijuana," said
NDP candidate Ric Dagenais. "I don't believe drugs have a place in my
life. I have enough trouble without being under the influence.

"But certainly I appreciate that if that's your choice, I think it
should be decriminalized. There are more important issues to deal with."

Conservative candidate Paul Benoit revealed that: "I'm more of a
drinker than a smoker."

But his answer on decriminalization was less clear cut.

"It's a question of the stream," he said. "That's the problem when
you're fighting crime. It's not so much at the particular end use.

"From a crime prevention point of view, from a social point of view,
you want to go further upstream and look at those problems there. And
that's what a Conservative government would try to address."

As for Liberal incumbent Mauril Belanger, he chose to quote former
Liberal health minister Allan Rock. "I have never smoked marijuana
for medicinal purposes."

Mr. Belanger added: "I believe we must at the very least
decriminalize the use and possession of small quantities of marijuana."

Marijuana party candidate Carol Taylor was not present.

Students also asked about international aid, the alienation of Muslim
Canadians by anti-terrorism laws, Canadian troops in Afghanistan, the
environment and, of course, tuition fees and student debt loads.

The four candidates promised that their parties would attempt to
provide financial relief for post secondary education.