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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Canada: Time To Talk About Decriminalizing Pot - Owen
Damian Inwood The Prvince (CN BC)
Thursday 28 Mar 2002 Vancouver Mayor Philip Owen would like to see a federal commission tour Canada to smoke out public opinion on the decriminalization of marijuana. "I think the Canadian public is ready for a dialogue on this," said Owen, who's been spearheading the city's push for safe injection sites for intravenous drug users. "Are Canadians interested in separating hard and soft drugs and, if so, do they want to have a separate discussion about marijuana and [take the] first step to decriminalize it?" Owen denied a report in the Vancouver Courier that said he wanted marijuana decriminalized. "That's not what I said," he said. "I'm not expert enough to say we should decriminalize or we should legalize, but I think the public wants to talk about it." "In Europe, several countries have decriminalized marijuana," Owen said. "Switzerland has even legalized it. In the U.S., which has its war on drugs going thick and heavy, eight states have decriminalized marijuana -- big states like California, Ohio and New York." He said he believes Ottawa is ready for the discussion because it has already approved the use of marijuana for medical purposes. "I would like to elevate awareness, so we can get a Canadian dialogue going on this issue." Asked if city police might object to any move to decriminalization, Owen said that is irrelevant. "Vancouver police are involved with enforcement," he said. "If the laws change, they enforce them."
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