LIBERALS PIN POOL STRATEGY ON CANNABIS

THE State Opposition has flagged a tough stance on cannabis as one of its
key strategies leading into the next election.

During yesterday's parliamentary debate on the Government's controversial
cannabis law reforms, Opposition Leader Colin Barnett said the defining
difference for voters between the two parties would be their opposing
positions on the drug.

And in his argument against the legislation, shadow health minister Mike
Board said he had tried cannabis once and made a personal explanation for
his past involvement in a company which sold drug paraphernalia to shops
throughout Australia.

Under the Bill, people growing two cannabis plants or possessing less than
30g of the drug for personal use will be issued an on-the-spot fine of up
to $200.

"If there will be one difference between the Premier and me leading up to
the next election, it will be the Premier's soft stance on drugs and my
position ... of supporting parents and families to fight drugs," Mr Barnett
said.

"The Government and Premier have done what they always do - that is, act
for minorities. There is no more important issue ... there will be no
holds barred in this."

Outside Parliament, Dr Gallop said the real defining difference would be
between a Government that was moving forward and an Opposition that was
rooted in the past.

Mr Board told the Legislative Assembly he regretted his previous
involvement with a company that sold smoking paraphernalia, but at the time
he was not breaking the law. He believed then cannabis would be
decriminalised and it was a good business decision.

"I realise that was an error of judgment and if I had known at the time I
would be in public life and if I had known at the time the extent of the
proliferation of the drug and ... the way in which the drug has become
harmful ... I would have made different decisions," he said.

In 1997, Mr Board said the company was involved mainly in clothing and at
the time he had been ignorant of some aspects of the business, including
the sale of bongs and what they were used for.

Carine Liberal MLA Katie Hodson-Thomas said yesterday she knew her eldest
son had tried cannabis and that the Bill sent mixed messages to young people.

Ms Hodson-Thomas said her son had told her that if the cannabis was
decriminalised, it would send a message to young people that it was okay to
smoke dope, though he knew it was not.

Health Minister Bob Kucera asked if trying cannabis made her son a criminal.

"It does not make himn a criminal," Ms Hodson-Thomas said. "No, I don't
believe young people should be given a criminal record."