IGNATIEFF BLASTED AS TORIES LAUNCH ANTI-POT PROGRAM

The launch of an anti-drug campaign by the federal government took a
decidedly partisan turn Wednesday when Conservative MP Shelly Glover
suggested Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff finds it acceptable for
youth to smoke marijuana.

Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq and Glover were announcing a new
television and social media advertising campaign aimed at teenagers
and Glover took the opportunity to make a jab at Ignatieff.

"It's very disturbing as a parent, and as a police officer for almost
19 years, to hear the opposition, in fact the Liberal leader, say to
our children that it is OK to take marijuana in small doses," the
Manitoba MP said during her prepared remarks. She repeated her comment
in French.

Glover read a quote from Ignatieff where he said he supports the
decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana and that he doesn't
comment on the "personal lifestyle choices" of his friends or colleagues.

"That tells my children that a leader in our country is OK if they're
carrying small amounts of marijuana, it's OK if his colleagues are
personally using, when the laws in this country clearly say it is
illegal," Glover said.

Ignatieff's office said Glover took the leader's quote out of context
and omitted the last line of it where he said he does not want to
legalize marijuana.