CIVIC RACE GOES TO POT

Only Jakobek Against Decriminalization

Toronto's five major mayoral candidates admit that they have inhaled in the
past and all but one support the decriminalization of pot. Tom Jakobek, 44,
a former city councillor, said while it makes sense to ease pot laws for
medicinal purposes, he does not want to see the crime of possessing
marijuana struck from the books.

"The effects on the lungs are just as bad as cigarette smoking and I
wouldn't want to promote cigarette smoking," said Jakobek.

He did, however, admit that he smoked a bit of pot in his "younger days,"
adding it was never a habit.

Former Toronto mayor Barbara Hall, Councillor David Miller, John Tory,
former co-CEO of Rogers Cable, and former MP John Nunziata are also
competing to replace retiring Mayor Mel Lastman in November's municipal
election.

Hall, 57, the frontr-unner in the race, said she doesn't want to see young
people hit with criminal records just because they decided to experiment
with pot.

"I was a child of the '60s and like others of my generation I tried
marijuana," said Hall, who added she didn't enjoy it and never became a
regular smoker. "It made me want to eat more brownies," she said.

Nunziata, 48, said he doesn't want to see the courts used to punish those
convicted of simple possession of the drug.

While he doesn't want to see marijuana legalized, Nunziata said the penalty
for possession should be similar to a speeding ticket.

"Yes, I have inhaled. What self-respecting student of the '70s didn't,"
said Nunziata, who admitted he puffed pot as an "occasional thing" while at
university.

Councillor David Miller, 45, also supports decriminalization, saying police
need to focus on dealing with "real criminals."

When asked if he's ever toked, Miller responded: "Not in this country."

John Tory, 49, former co-CEO of Rogers Cable, said that he supports
decriminalization because taxpayers invest "a massive amount of resources"
on prosecuting people in the courts for possession of small amounts of pot.

He said he too smoked marijuana -- back in his student days.

Ottawa has yet to make a final decision about decriminalization. While pot
possession would remain illegal under proposed federal legislation, people
found with up to 15 grams would receive a citation similar to a traffic
ticket, carrying a fine of $100 to $400.