MOTION CALLS FOR TAXATION OF LEGAL MARIJUANA

OTTAWA -- Delegates to the Liberal party convention next month will debate
a motion to legalize and tax marijuana sales, saying it would bring in
billions in new tax revenue. Parliament is already debating legislation to
decriminalize marijuana, but a resolution by Alberta Liberals would go much
further. It would tax the proceeds of legalized pot sales, which the
resolution says would bring in $3 billion in revenue each year.

"Legalizing marijuana would be a serious blow to drug dealers and organized
crime financially," says the resolution for the March 5-6 gathering.

"Resolved that a portion of these tax revenues be used to educate youth
against drug use and to provide treatment for those who are adversely
affected by use of marijuana."

It's just one of dozens of policy proposals obtained by The Canadian Press
that will be debated by delegates to the Ottawa convention.

Another resolution, from British Columbia, asks for stiffer sentences for
those involved in marijuana grow-ops. Meanwhile, a party group called the
Senior Liberals Commission is asking delegates to urge the government to
enact legislation to respect "alternative forms of social lifestyle," but
to not alter the definition of marriage.

But Liberal youth activists are working on a campaign called "It's the
Charter, Stupid," with rallies and demonstrations to lobby delegates to
support the government's same-sex marriage legislation before Parliament.

Some resolutions will be chosen as priority issues and will automatically
be included for a vote by all delegates. Others must make it through debate
in a workshop in order to be presented for approval or defeat by all delegates.