MCGUINTY, HAMPTON SMOKED UP, HARRIS CLAIMS HE STUCK TO BOOZE

TORONTO - Both provincial opposition leaders say they favour
decriminalizing marijuana, while admitting they tried it in their
younger years.

Both inhaled.

Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty said he smoked pot twice in his late
teenage years. NDP Leader Howard Hampton admitted puffing it a few
times during his second year of university, as well as munching
unsuspectingly on pot-laced brownies.

Premier Mike Harris lit up the marijuana issue yesterday by denouncing
any attempt to decriminalize simple possession of the drug.

Asked if he had ever inhaled, Harris said "no."

"But I grew up in an age where we tried all these things," Harris
said. "I found booze a little more attractive to me."

Harris said that unlike his opponents, he believes in a "zero
tolerance" approach to drugs to discourage kids from starting up.

"I think there's a very clear difference between me and my opponents,"
Harris said. "(McGuinty) makes excuses for those who break the law."

Harris said the Liberal leader blames society, or poverty, or other
social issues for criminal behaviour.

"I think he's out of touch with reality; maybe it comes with being a
former defence lawyer versus a small businessman," Harris said.

McGuinty said his time spent in court gave him a more profound
understanding of the justice system than Harris got "when he was out
on the . . . ninth green."

The Liberal leader said his election plan calls for a stiff two-year
jail sentence to be added to the regular penalties of anyone caught
with a weapon or dealing drugs near a school.

McGuinty said he believes -- as does the Association of Canadian
Police Chiefs -- that simple possession of marijuana should be
decriminalized.

Hampton said he also favours decriminalizing pot possession because
that approach doesn't work, much like the U.S. war on drugs isn't working.