'FREEDOM TOUR' LEAVES ITS MARK

Neil Magnuson is once again making his way across Canada to raise
awareness about the dangers of drug prohibition, particularly marijuana.

"Prohibition to drugs has been a complete disaster. It didn't work
with alcohol and it's not working with these other substances as
well," said Magnuson.

The Freedom Tour rolled into Regina on Monday evening and is to leave
the city today. Magnuson errected signs by Tory campaign signs to let
people know about his opposition to the current government's proposed
legislation on mandatory minimum sentences.

It is the third time the 51-year-old has put on his in-line skates and
made the trip. The annual trek kicks off in Victoria in June and ends
in Ottawa for Remembrance Day.

"We go to legions across Canada, we stop at the mayors' offices, the
police stations, MPs' offices and the media," said Magnuson.

He said there are four main messages that he stresses and the first is
freedom.

"The definition of freedom is the right to do or not do whatever you
want to do or not want to do without any government interference,
coercion or prohibition unless you unreasonably interfere with someone
else," explained Magnuson.

The second point he addresses is the role of the government in a free
country. The third is the dangers and costs of drug
prohibition.

"The attempted prohibition of substances increases the demand for the
substances and it creates and fuels a criminal underground to supply
those substances, putting us all at great risk and accomplishing
nothing," said Magnuson.

He also is trying to raise awareness about the value of hemp, which
serves medicinal purposes, and is also a clothing, fuel and food source.

"That's essentially what the Freedom Tour is all about -- to build
awareness about those issues," said Magnuson.

Since starting his tour three years ago, he said, more people are
aware of the issue.

Magnuson is also a civilian member of Law Enforcement Against
Prohibition (LEAP), which claims to have a membership of more than
10,000.

He also believes that mandatory minimum sentences for drug offences is
not going to help solve the drug problem in Canada. He said Canada
just has to look at the U.S. to see that such legislation does not
work; instead it fills the jails with people who are not criminals.

Andrew Scheer, the Conservative MP Regina Qu'Appelle, defends his
party's position.

"We have come up with anti-drug strategy that has a two-pronged focus.
One is on getting drug users treatment, get rehabilitated so the they
get the help they need so they just don't remain addicts for the rest
of their lives. The second is tougher laws and tougher penalties
targetted at manufacturers and traffickers," explained Scheer.

He said its about cracking down on grow-ops and shutting down meth
labs and dealing with those who traffic such narcotics with tougher
sentences.

"I think that's right in line where Canadians want us to be. I think
as a parent myself I support the idea that the government and the
criminal justice system treats people who try to get kids addicted to
drugs much more severely than it has in the past," said Scheer.

He believes that people in this province want tougher drug
laws.

"I went door knocking the first day of the campaign and literally the
first three houses knocked on talked about their concern with grow-ops
in their community and the poisonous effect that has on their
community with people coming and going at all hours of the night,"
said Scheer. "I think even with marijuana there's a desire from the
public to deal with those who traffic in it and manufacture it."