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Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is “promoting marijuana use for our children,” but also suggested the government is open to exploring new enforcement options for possession, such as a fine.

Trudeau’s confession last week that he smoked marijuana three years ago as an MP, combined with his signature policy plank of legalizing the drug, has brought the issue back to the forefront of the public agenda.

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“I think Mr. Trudeau’s actions display poor judgment … and I look at the contrast with him promoting marijuana use for our children versus yesterday saying he will have no economic policy for several years,” Harper said a Toronto news conference promoting his government’s child protection laws.

“Our priority as a government is not encouraging the spread of drugs, it’s encouraging job creation.”

But Harper also said his government is “looking carefully” at the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police proposal to ticket people caught with 30 grams or less of cannabis. The Chiefs suggested prosecuting people for simple possession is expensive and that a criminal record places barriers on future travel, employment and citizenship.