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Alcock favours legalized marijuana - Only way to stop criminals, minister says, is for state to control drug traffic
By: Ian Bailey, with files from Anne Dawson and Peter O'Neil, Ottawa Citizen (CN ON), 03-05-05

Only way to stop criminals, minister says, is for state to control drug traffic

Ian Bailey, with files from Anne Dawson and Peter O'Neil The Vancouver Province

A senior federal Liberal cabinet minister broke ranks yesterday with the government's opposition to legalizing marijuana as debate on the issue raged at the party's policy convention in light of the deaths of four Alberta Mounties during a grow-op raid.

Treasury Board President Reg Alcock said he will vote to legalize marijuana if a resolution on the issue comes up at the policy meeting this weekend, noting he has voted in favour of the idea at party policy conventions going back to 1978.

"If we actually wanted to break the back of organized crime, we would be better off to control it," said Mr. Alcock. "When you have these things underground, what you end up fuelling is organized crime."

He said "normal policing" has failed to stamp out illegal trade in marijuana, but that legalization would provide "a better chance of controlling it than we do right now."

Mr. Alcock's views stood in stark contrast to those of Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan, who told reporters "we should not be sending mixed signals around how we as a government view this."

The former health minister acknowledged she has been accused of being a "puritanical zealot" over her opposition to legalizing marijuana.

"This is a dangerous substance. We know it is a more potent carcinogen than smoking tobacco. That's what the research tells us. That's irrefutable. That's science," she said.

Among the resolutions at the meeting is a proposal to have the Liberal party encourage the government to legalize marijuana for reasons that include safety and allowing the government to "make $3 billion in tax revenue a year."

The shooting deaths of four Mounties during the ill-fated raid near Mayerthorpe, in northwestern Alberta, spilled over into the corridors of the conference centre and hotel where federal Liberals are holding a four-day party convention, forcing ministers to defend the government's policies on illegal drugs.

Much of the discussion revolved around the government's proposed marijuana decriminalization bill, which would soften penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana, but toughen penalties for growers.

Growers could face sentences of 18 months to 14 years in jail depending on the number of plants involved.

Bill C-38 has passed first reading in the House and is now subject to review by a parliamentary committee.

Ms. McLellan noted the bill includes provisions to force judges to take a harder line on illegal growing operations, including an explanation in written reasons if there is no jail time for an offence.

"All of us, whatever role we play in society, need to understand the seriousness of illegal grow-ops and the fact that they are not, in any way, a victimless crime, that, in fact, most grow-ops are controlled by and run for the benefit of organized crime," said Ms. McLellan.

Conservative leader Stephen Harper said his party continues to oppose the government's legislation, but that he was reluctant to elaborate on the issue on a day that should be devoted to reflection on the tragedy.

"I am reluctant to draw too many links between these events and public policy. This is a tragedy. I think the government's marijuana bill would be ill-considered under any circumstances," he said.

Legislation cannot avoid all tragedies, he said.

"Whenever there is a tragedy like this, there are calls for immediate and drastic action. The left will call for more gun control, and the right will call for tougher penalties," he said.

"But the truth of the matter: If someone dangerous or disturbed decides to engage in this kind of action, there's no world in which we can ensure that all of these things can be prevented."