TIME TO TALK ABOUT DECRIMINALIZING POT: OWEN

Vancouver Mayor Philip Owen would like to see a federal commission tour
Canada to smoke out public opinion on the decriminalization of marijuana.

"I think the Canadian public is ready for a dialogue on this," said Owen,
who's been spearheading the city's push for safe injection sites for
intravenous drug users.

"Are Canadians interested in separating hard and soft drugs and, if so, do
they want to have a separate discussion about marijuana and [take the]
first step to decriminalize it?"

Owen denied a report in the Vancouver Courier that said he wanted marijuana
decriminalized.

"That's not what I said," he said. "I'm not expert enough to say we should
decriminalize or we should legalize, but I think the public wants to talk
about it."

"In Europe, several countries have decriminalized marijuana," Owen said.
"Switzerland has even legalized it. In the U.S., which has its war on drugs
going thick and heavy, eight states have decriminalized marijuana -- big
states like California, Ohio and New York."

He said he believes Ottawa is ready for the discussion because it has
already approved the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

"I would like to elevate awareness, so we can get a Canadian dialogue going
on this issue."

Asked if city police might object to any move to decriminalization, Owen
said that is irrelevant.

"Vancouver police are involved with enforcement," he said. "If the laws
change, they enforce them."