Sheila Malcolmson, NDP Member of Parliament for 59018 Nanaimo-Ladysmith (BC)

Sheila Malcolmson, NDP Member of Parliament for 59018 Nanaimo-Ladysmith (BC)

Sheila Malcolmson
NDP

New Democrats have long said that no one should be going to jail or be stuck with a criminal record for possession of marijuana for personal use. We have pledged to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana immediately.

It is clear Stephen Harper’s “war on drugs” is about ideology, not science, and the Conservatives have refused to listen or act responsibly on this file.

It has been 40 years since the LeDain Commission looked into the non-medical use of drugs and successive Liberal and Conservative governments have done nothing to update the government’s understanding of marijuana use in Canada today.

It is time to modernize our marijuana laws, move to decriminalization, and base laws on scientific evidence and public health principles.

An NDP government would seek to balance prevention, public health and well-being, harm reduction, community safety, and public education. We would also consult and work with provincial, territorial, municipal and Indigenous governments.

I also recently met with local, licensed businesses that provide medical marijuana and listened as they outlined their need for a clear federal framework for the regulation of medical marijuana.

http://www.ladysmithchronicle.com/federalelection/330719971.html
Issue Summary #9 - Decriminalization of Marijuana
by  Contributed - Ladysmith Chronicle
posted Oct 5, 2015 at 10:00 AM


"
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister made campaign promises about marijuana reform, but now courts are buzzing with confusion, and the Liberals are doing nothing to clear the air. They are spending over $4 million a year prosecuting people for simple possession. There were 22,000 people in 2014 alone, and hours of court time wasted on something that should not even be a criminal offence.
"
11/03/2016 08:33 (PST)
https://www.facebook.com/SheilaMalcolmsonNDP/photos/a.791298424240770.1073741828.788607237843222/979659998737944/?type=3