POTENT POT GETS WORLD'S EYE

Local pot advocates and politicians say the United Nations is blowing
smoke after a report stated marijuana could be as dangerous to use as
cocaine and heroin.

According to the UN, the potency of marijuana has doubled in places
such as B.C. due to indoor grow-ops and global popularity of smoking
pot is cause for concern.

"It's wrong," said an angry Michelle Rainey, vice-president of the
B.C. Marijuana Party and a medical marijuana user, at her B.C. Hemp
Bookstore. "There is nothing to indicate that cannabis is like heroin."

Rainey, who faces extradition to the U.S. with Marc Emery for
allegedly selling pot seeds across the border, said the report
completely overlooked the vast majority of studies on the medical
benefits of cannabis.

Vancouver East MP Libby Davies is worried the report may spark a
knee-jerk reaction from governments.

"My fear is that it will provide ammunition for hardcore drug czars
for increased enforcement," said the NDP MP. "Bush or Harper could use
it as a false lever."

Instead of enforcement, Davies argues the report should be a sign that
governments need to decriminalize and regulate the use of pot.

"The message here is that prohibition has been an utter failure," she
said. "What we need is realistic education so people know what effects
of marijuana are and how to be responsible in using it similar to what
we've done with smoking and drinking."

Liberal Vancouver Centre MP Hedy Fry said legalizing marijuana, along
with education campaigns, would help reduce the rising potency of pot.

"There is some truth that it's getting stronger and stronger," said
Fry. "But that's why you see most countries, especially in the EU,
taking steps to regulate it and make it safer. Just one report is not
something people should look at for a stance."