LEGALIZED POT WON'T FLY IN THE PEACE SAYS PENSON

Legalizing the sale and use of marijuana has gotten a firm thumbs down from
the local Alliance MP.

Peace River MP Charlie Penson said he's confident the report issued
Wednesday by the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, which
recommended legalizing the use and sale of marijuana to anyone 16 or older,
won't be received favourably in the Peace region.

"I'm not in favour of that, and I think that is the reflective of the view
of most people in my constituency," said Penson.

Marijuana is a "gateway" drug, he said, that paves the way into addiction
to so-called hard drugs - an argument discarded by the senate committee as
untrue.

"I'm of the view it would lead to an increase in use and graduation to
harder drugs," said Penson.

"I don't see any compelling push (for legalization), certainly not from my
constituents in the Peace River region. I would be surprised if people were
supportive of this initiative."

The senate report was the end result of a two-year investigation into the
use and abuse of pot in Canada. The final 600-page report was distilled
down to 11 recommendations, including legalizing producing, selling and use
of marijuana, amnesty for the approximately 600,000 Canadians saddled with
criminal records for past possession of marijuana charges, and an easing-up
on the current guidelines for the medical use of cannabis.

The committee also recommended amending the legal blood/alcohol limit of
.08 to .04 in cases where liquor has been combined with other mind-altering
drugs.