Do you support the legalization of marijuana? If yes, what age should be legal purchase? If no, why?

Yvonne Prest, BC Green Party

Special to The Free Press

As your future MLA, and as a teacher, I believe that the legalization of marijuana must be regulated to protect our children. I would fight to ensure that an educational program about the effects of marijuana usage be integrated into schools, such as the P.A.R.T.Y program, which is in place to Prevent Alcohol & Risk-Related Trauma in Youth. We know that educating students to make responsible choices improves their health.

The BC Green Party is for the legalization of marijuana. However, as stated by Andrew Weaver, the Green party is against the marijuana industry being “taken over by big multinationals.”

If marijuana were legalized in B.C., for citizens 18 and older, a portion of marijuana tax revenue must be allocated to creating rehabilitation treatments and centres. The Green Party looks at drug abuse not as a criminal issue but as a public health issue. In Holland, where marijuana was legalized in the 1970s, their revenue profits allowed them to create successful programs. Canada does not have Holland’s decades of experience in this industry, so we must tread carefully to protect the health and safety of our citizens while allowing the 14-20 per cent of B.C.-marijuana users to use it recreationally.

Keith Komar, BC Libertarian Party

Special to The Free Press

I 100 per cent support the legalization of cannabis.

I do not use the name marijuana. It is a slang term used in the 30s to demonize the plant. I support its legalization because the government should not be in the business of choosing how we live our lives.

Our laws were set up originally to protect people’s right to choose.

The cost of prohibition has been heavy financially and has forced many people who are law abiding citizens to become criminals for no other reason but because the vice they have chosen has been deemed illegal by the State.

I believe that the legal age should be 18. If you are old enough to go to war you are old enough to smoke cannabis. I am the BC Libertarian Party Cannabis platform expert.

If you would like a more lengthy conversation on this subject I am more than willing to go into more detail on this issue.

I also want to add that I support Craft Cannabis over the LP model of production and distribution. The latest bill to legalize cannabis is nothing more than the federal government trying to push out local growers.

This is not a free market or much of a democracy when the federal government can with the stroke of a pen legislate out the people who brought legalization to the forefront of our minds. Craft Cannabis yes, LP Cannabis no. In my opinion.

Tom Shypitka, BC Liberals

Special to The Free Press

Bottom line for me, I want my two young children and all children and adolescents to be safe. The decision to make cannabis legal in Canada is not British Columbia’s, that decision has been made by the Trudeau government in Ottawa. A BC Liberal government will ensure that federal decision is implemented according to our top priorities, health and safety.

In our election platform, Strong BC, Bright Future, we reaffirmed the principles that guide us:

Keeping it out of the hands of minors. Keeping the profits out of organized crime. Ensuring product quality control and appropriate labeling.

If re-elected, we will form an expert panel to advise on the development of the regulatory framework and we will ask them to advise on three key areas:

Production and Distribution – where the province has jurisdiction, the panel will advise on how to best produce and market cannabis away from places where children regularly frequent.

Minimum Legal Age – The minimum age for cigarettes and alcohol is 19 and we anticipate the age for cannabis use to remain the same, but we will hear from the expert panel. This decision should be driven by science, not opinion.

Impairment Screening – We will ask the expert panel to work with police departments on a plan that ensures drug impaired drivers are kept off B.C. roads.

Sadly, we all know the impact substance abuse can have on families and supporting recovery from addictions and other mental health disorders is value that all British Columbians can share.

That’s why any additional revenue generated by the sale of cannabis, will not go into general revenue, but will be targeted toward prevention, enforcement, health research, education, addiction recovery and other mental health supports.

As a young man, I owned and operated pubs and restaurants. I’ve seen the devastation that drug trafficking can have on communities and here in British Columbia we’ve taken a leadership role in fighting the drug trade. The federal government has made the decision. B.C. must be thoughtful in how it is implemented.

Randal Macnair, BC NDP

Special to The Free Press

The legalization of cannabis is a federal decision but they have downloaded the real responsibility to the provinces and municipalities.

It’s essential that B.C. is prepared with effective and smart regulation.

Cannabis is a drug and as such requires a thoughtful, considered approach.

We’ll have effective regulations that meet the law while keeping communities and kids safe. I am in favour of treating it like alcohol and tobacco, so sales should be limited to informed adults with the age harmonized at 19, and as such will require that regulations and public health measures be put in place. People who rely on cannabis for medical purposes need a reliable, regulated, and safe supply.

Regulation ensures that consumers will know what they are buying and encouraging mindful use. Advertising of cannabis should be restricted and the distribution system should be strictly overseen. Significantly, legalization encourages conversation and supports education.

The province should include municipalities, law enforcement, cannabis producers and current retailers, the medical community and medical users in the discussion leading to a solution for B.C.

Many concerns are addressed in the Final Report of the Federal Task Force on Cannabis Legalization, it is a thoughtful document and should be a starting point for this discussion.

Provincial Election