TRUSTEES SPLIT ON POT BILL

A split board of school trustees defeated a motion to send a letter to MP
Chuck Strahl urging him to vote against Bill C-17 for the Decriminalization
of Marijuana.

Trustee Karen Perry presented the draft letter to the board, at the request
of Chair Carmen Ranta.

"I have followed that particular Bill," said trustee Jim Despot, who called
it a good Bill.

He said there were provisions in the bill to notify the parents if a minor
is ticketed for possession, which does not happen under current laws.

Despot said he didn't feel the Board should be taking any sort of action on
a federal matter, having enough on their plate already with provincial issues.

"It's a stepping stone drug," said trustee Val Adrian, who supported
sending the letter. "Personally, I've seen the destruction it's done to
families."

"Decriminalization is not legalization," said trustee Mavorneen Varcoe-Ryan.

"Decriminalization is the first step to legalization," responded Perry.

"We need toput our voice forward," said Ranta. "We need to support what
we've already started in the District with the Drug Free Zones."

"Not supporting this letter does not mean we're not supporting Drug Free
Zones," noted Varcoe-Ryan.

Under the new changes, a person would not be subject to fingerprinting or
photographs for possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana. (Half to one
gram is the equivalent of one joint.)

However, they will still be faced with a fine. That fine is higher under
specific circumstances, such as being in possession of the substance in or
near a school that is attended primarily by persons under the age of 18
years, or on or near the grounds of such a school.

Trustees Despot, Varcoe-Ryan and Bill Sturn voted against sending the
letter to MP Strahl, thereby defeating the motion.