MARIJUANA COMMENTS RAISE CONCERNS

The Saskatchewan Party is raising questions about comments made by an
NDP candidate during a recent students' forum at Carlton School.

During the question and answer part of the forum on Nov. 1, a student
asked Chad Nilson about legalizing marijuana.

Nilson responded that because that issue falls under federal
jurisdiction, students should lobby their MP if they want marijuana
legalized.

Saskatchewan Party candidates Darryl Hickie and Kevin Shiach said they
have received phone calls from parents concerned that Nilson was
advocating legalization.

"I was very concerned that he made a comment about legalizing
marijuana," said Hickie, adding he was worried as a police officer and
as a parent.

"That's not acceptable at all. The Saskatchewan Party doesn't advocate
for the legalization of any drugs."

Nilson said his point was that "marijuana is a federal government
issue and students need to speak to their federal politician about the
issue."

Nilson said a lot of users buying marijuana will get it from the same
person who also sells harder drugs, and the question he answered dealt
with separating the market as some other countries have done.

Nilson also said the federal government has made moves to
decriminalize marijuana.

He said the big difference between the Saskatchewan Party and the
NDP's approaches to dealing with drugs is that the former emphasizes
criminalization and penal institutions while the latter stresses treatment.

"My opinion is, we need more treatment in Saskatchewan," said Nilson.