MANLEY REGRETS HE MISSED THE '60s

Having Smoked Pot Now 'De Rigueur,' Manley Says

Liberal leadership hopeful John Manley, in an interview yesterday,
turned the once-dreaded pot-smoking question on its ear.

The finance minister and deputy prime minister, 53, is on record as
supporting decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana.

But until now, he hadn't spoken about his personal experience with the
drug.

Politicians now routinely face that question. Responses have ranged
from U.S. President Bill Clinton's disingenuous, "Yes, but I didn't
inhale," to Heritage Minister Sheila Copps's rather more enthusiastic
"Absolutely."

Manley had to concede yesterday that the psychedelic '60s passed him
by.

"No, never," he deadpanned when asked if he'd ever toked. "I regret
that, now, because apparently it's 'de rigueur.' "

Manley's "confession" comes two days after Prime Minister Jean
Chretien cautioned Liberals at a party fundraiser not to light up just
yet, since decriminalization hasn't yet passed.