POT LEGALIZATION PLAN PANNED IN P.G.

Senate Committee Recommendation Goes Too Far, Say Area MPs, Police

A Senate committee's recommendation to legalize marijuana was largely
greeted with staunch opposition in Prince George.

The 600-page report released Wednesday goes far beyond past debate
about decriminalizing possession of the drug. By legalizing the use of
pot for anyone over the age of 16, as recommended by the Senate
committee, sale and cultivation of the drug would be regulated by
government, much like alcohol is. Decriminalization, on the other
hand, would see small-time users handed a fine, similar to a parking
ticket, rather than being criminally charged and forced through the
courts. The senators also called for an amnesty for Canadians who have
been convicted of crimes for simple possession of cannabis, and
recommended easier access to medicinal marijuana.

Prince George-Peace River MP Jay Hill supports decriminalization but
said he would not back a proposal to legalize marijuana. "I'm
personally opposed to full legalization. I think the majority of
people would also be opposed to it," said the Alliance member. Making
it legal for someone as young as 16 to smoke pot is troublesome, he
said, because it could encourage youths to take up the habit.

Hill said he's interested in the findings of an all-party Commons
committee that's studying illicit drug use, and which is expected to
issue a report in November. Senators, he noted, are appointed and
therefore not accountable to the public.

Alliance colleague Prince George-Bulkley Valley MP Dick Harris said
he's also opposed to making marijuana legal. "I'm not comfortable with
the effects of marijuana in relation to a number of things, like
people's behaviour and the ability to drive safely," he said. Harris
said he's not in favour of even decriminalization, saying a previous
mail-out survey of constituents agreed with his position, but added
that he supports controlled use for medicinal purposes.

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program, which teaches
youths about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, maintains its stance
against substance use, said DARE B.C. president Tom Griffiths of
Prince George. "The goal of the DARE program is to encourage people,
particularly young people, not to have that lifestyle, so to endorse
legalization would go against what it's all about," he said. "There's
enough research to show that drugs, whether they're considered hard or
soft, can be harmful," he said. DARE B.C. has previously panned the
concept of decriminalizing marijuana.

Supt. Mike Morris of North District RCMP said the force is open to
looking at other methods of reducing drug use, besides charging people
with crimes for possession of small amounts. The current system has
been largely ineffective, leading to poor use of police and court
time, he said. "If there's other, more effective means I'd like to
explore those with the federal government," he said. But Morris added,
"We don't condone any kind of substance that has led to abuse."

B.C. Marijuana party president Marc Emery, who advocated legalization
at a Senate-committee hearing in Richmond this spring, said he sees
the report as an unequivocal endorsement of his party's beliefs. "I'm
elated. I'm surprised. I expected a recommendation for
decriminalization but also keeping everything else illegal," he said
from Vancouver.