LEGALIZED POT PROPONENTS SEE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR DEBATE

February 13, 1998

By Sandra McCulloch, Times-Colonist Staff

"It's really highlighting the stupidity and injustice of the drug war." Ian Hunter on Olympic marijuana scandal.

It would appear an outpouring of support by Canadians for embattled Olympic snowboarder Ross Rebagliati has been a mind-expending experience for parliamentarians.

Several federal politicians sniffed the wind Thursday and said they would welcome a debate on the subject of decriminalizing marijuana use in the wake Rebagliati's positive test for pot at the Winter Games.

The Whistler resident had his gold medal reinstated Thursday by the International Olympic Committee to wide-spread applause in Canada.

Keith Martin, MP for Malahat-Juan de Fuca, has long supported decriminalization of marijuana "which is very different from legalization of marijuana."

Martin said from Ottawa that he expects Rebagliati will come home to Canada "revelling in his gold medal and not his exploits with the demon weed.

"I hope the debate over decriminalization of marijuana continues to occur so we can take this drain off our justice system which is prosecuting people possessing small amounts of marijuana."

"My colleague, the minister of health and I have both indicated we are willing to look at the question of decriminalizing it for medical purposes and that in fact our officials have begun that discussion," Justice Minister Anne McLellan volunteered.

Solicitor general Andy Scott said he would welcome debate on decriminalization.

Reformer John Reynolds, whose riding includes Whistler, added his call for a debate.

"I think marijuana could be looked at for medicinal purposes and I certainly wouldn't mind a debate in this House so we could find out more about it," he said. "But right now, I don't think we need another mind-altering drug on the market."

In Victoria, marijuana proponent Ian Hunter called Rebagliati's ordeal "quite the victory for the sides of liberty and freedom. It's really highlighting the stupidity and injustice of the drug war."

The owner of the Sacred Herb, which has sold marijuana seeds, added, "What it's done is once again put pot decriminalization on the front burner of public discussion."

Victoria lawyer Jeff Green agreed. Rebagliati's drug-test fiasco "presents a significant opportunity to the debate in this country that marijuana is still illegal. It's been more than 20 years since the LeDain Commission recommended marijuana be legalized,"said Green.

Rebagliati maintained he absorbed the small amount of marijuana through second-hand smoke.

Green said it's unlikely the second-hand smoke argument would crop up as a defence in court cases: "There's no way in Canada of compelling someone to provide a sample of urine or blood to test them for drugs."

The exception is the impaired-driving section of the criminal Code, he said.