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Board ponders pot
By: Geoff Mueller, Castlegar News (CN BC), 02-23-05

Leave the pot to the politicians, says school board trustee Chris D'Arcy.

"They have 305 parliamentarians, and 105 senators who are highly paid to make these kinds of decisions," he added, regarding a motion in front of the board to discuss supporting Bill C-17 and the decriminalization of marijuana.

D'Arcy spoke during School District No 20's regular open board meeting Monday evening at Stanley Humphries.

He argued the motion be cancelled because the board shouldn't be getting into the business of saying yes or no to a bill that sits before the House of Commons.

D'Arcy said the fact the board has opened up the topic for discussion sends the wrong message to parents, teachers and administrators trying to enforce zero tolerance policies at local schools.

The motion was brought to the table by trustee Mickey Kinakin last month. At the time, Kinakin said he was against drugs, but supported the bill because it would help eliminate the need for long-term punitive action against youth making poor decisions.

D'Arcy, however, said the issue has been embarrassing for the board, and leaving it for further discussion was a matter of "bad politics."

School District No. 34, Abbotsford, wrote their MP last month stating public debate and the government's consideration of Bill C-17 were adversely contributing to drug problems.

"This legislation, if passed, will most certainly contribute to making B.C. and Canada a safe haven for drug users, growers and organized crime," wrote chairperson Joanne Field.

© 2005 H.U.M.A.N.: Hemp Users Medical Access Network - Toronto Medical Marijuana