STUDENTS QUIZ CANDIDATES

The law on marijuana possession was one of the hot topics at a Regina high
school political forum Wednesday -- but not all students believe loosening
drug laws is a good idea.

"There's definitely other things we should be talking about," said Beth
Clark, 16. "As soon as marijuana is legalized, cocaine is going to get
bigger and then people or going to want to legalize that."

Students at Sheldon Williams Collegiate quizzed Conservative, Liberal, NDP
and Green Party candidates about such topics as same sex marriage and
student loans.

Still, it was the debate over decriminalizing marijuana possession that got
the biggest response from the crowd.

A student asked the party representatives for their views on marijuana.

Before the election was called, the Liberal government had introduced a
bill that would decriminalize possession of less than 15 grams of marijuana.

The bill died on the order paper when parliament was dissolved, but
according to Palliser Liberal candidate John Williams, there's no reason to
think it won't be brought back.

Williams said he supports decriminalizing possession of small amounts of
marijuana. That way, possession would still be illegal, but the offender
would receive a ticket rather than a criminal record, he said.

Also supporting decriminalization for small quantities is Palliser NDP
candidate Dick Proctor and Conservative candidate for Regina-Qu'Appelle
Andrew Scheer.

"Our party would certainly look at that," said Scheer, who later added he
supports decriminalizing less than five grams of marijuana.

Fiorindo Agi, Green Party candidate for Regina-Lumsden-Lake-Centre,
received applause when he said his party wants to go beyond
decriminalization to legalize marijuana.

"It would be great, because we could all have a party," he said.

Proctor said he has some concerns about the health risks of marijuana,
adding it's somewhat strange that the government is looking at loosening
the marijuana laws at the same time governments are cracking down on
tobacco use.

However, the NDP caucus supports decriminalization as part of a broader
anti-drug policy, he said.

Following the forum, some students said they wished there was more time to
talk about other issues.

"I thought it was ridiculous," said Katherine Reichel, 17. "I was more
wanting to hear about gay marriage, the drinking issue, the AIDS epidemic,
but we didn't get to that."

Ariel Bryant, 16, said she took offence at the Green Party's Agi making
light of drug use.

"It's really kind of offensive," she said.

" 'Let's go smoke a joint?' That's not the way the government should be
talking."