ALLIANCE MP LASHES OUT AT JUDGE

VANCOUVER -- A Canadian Alliance MP had harsh words yesterday for a B.C.
Appeal Court judge who wrote in a recent ruling that she no longer thinks
marijuana offences are serious crimes.

In the ruling issued Friday, Justice Mary Southin wrote she has sat on "over
40 cases which had something to do with this substance, which appears to be
of no greater danger to society than alcohol."

But Randy White, police issues critic for the Canadian Alliance, said that
statement flies in the face of what he learned while serving as
vice-chairman of a parliamentary committee on non-medical drug use.

"I spent 18 months looking at this issue from Parliament's point of view,"
said White.

"The fact is medical associations will tell you marijuana has some serious
consequences to its use. Also, marijuana has some medicinal use.

"But far be it for a judge to make those decisions."

VIOLATED BASIC RIGHTS

Southin's comments were included in a three-judge B.C. Appeal Court ruling
that found Vancouver police officers violated basic rights when they used a
battering ram to break down the door of a suspected marijuana-grow operation
without first knocking.

Southin agreed with the judge writing the decision on the raid but decided
to include her own thoughts on marijuana.