The Saskatchewan Marijuana Party released its platform Thursday, and for a brief time, party leaders on the campaign trail were talking about pot.
The most talkative on the topic was Marijuana Party Leader Nathan Holowaty, who said he'd like to live in a world where he didn't have to be afraid to use marijuana.
That's why he helped launch the Saskatchewan branch of the party that stands for the decriminalization of pot.
Having possession of marijuana on the books as a criminal offence is bad for society, he said.
"It takes away people's liberties, it throws people in jail, it basically ties up our money in the court system, with the police, and it ruins lives," said Holowaty, who's running in Saskatoon Centre.
While the laws against possession are federal, he wants provincial politicians to take up his cause, he said.
"We think the provincial government should not fund municipal police forces that go after marijuana people," he said.
That issue was also raised elsewhere on the election trail Thursday.
Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall said he's opposed to decriminalization, but in his younger years he was at least in favour of experimentation.
Asked by a reporter if he had ever smoked marijuana, Wall said yes.
NDP Leader Lorne Calvert's party opposes legalization but is open to the decriminalization of pot. Despite his long-haired, rabble-rousing university days, Calvert denies ever dabbling in the drug.
Asked by a reporter Thursday if he had ever used marijuana, he said, "No I did not, have not."
Calvert admits possible second-hand exposure
Pressed on the issue, Calvert went so far as to say he might have had some second-hand exposure to marijuana smoke.
"Maybe, to be fair, when I was first a student at the University of Saskatchewan, a fair number of my colleagues did and even wandering the hallways, second hand…"
Liberal Leader David Karwacki said he hasn't smoked pot and while he doesn't want to see the drug legalized, he'd like to see it decriminalized.
Under a decriminalization plan that was once proposed by the federal Liberals, possession of small amounts of marijuana would be dealt with as a ticketable offence, resulting in a fine.
Holowaty said he's frustrated by politicians like Wall, who have smoked pot but now oppose it.
"The fact that they can still uphold a system where people are getting thrown in jail for it is quite hypocritical," he said.
Wall said his take isn't hypocritical, but he says his revelation may cause him some trouble on a personal level.
"I'm going to have to now phone my mom and tell her … how I answered that question," he said.
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Saskatchewan Votes 2007 »
- Saskatchewan Party wins majority government
- Only 10 years into its existence as a political force, the Saskatchewan Party will form a majority government and its leader Brad Wall will be the new premier.
- NDP had a 'good run in government'
- A desire for change pushed the NDP out of 16 years of rule in Saskatchewan, but leader Lorne Calvert said the party has no regrets.
- Liberals fail again to elect single MLA
- The third time was not a charm for Liberal Leader David Karwacki, as voters in Saskatoon Meewasin rebuffed his efforts for elected office.
- Shift in urban vote handed seats to Sask. Party
- The seeds of victory were sown in Regina and Saskatoon, where the Saskatchewan Party picked up five seats — but there were gains in other urban areas, too, that helped seal the election win.
- NDP holds on in Regina, but loses 3 seats
- Fortress Regina continued to stand for the NDP when the dust of Wednesday's election had settled, though its foundation was shaken by a trio of Saskatchewan Party wins.
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More Saskatchewan Votes Headlines »
- Saskatchewan Party wins majority government
- Only 10 years into its existence as a political force, the Saskatchewan Party will form a majority government and its leader Brad Wall will be the new premier.
- NDP had a 'good run in government'
- A desire for change pushed the NDP out of 16 years of rule in Saskatchewan, but leader Lorne Calvert said the party has no regrets.
- Liberals fail again to elect single MLA
- The third time was not a charm for Liberal Leader David Karwacki, as voters in Saskatoon Meewasin rebuffed his efforts for elected office.
- Shift in urban vote handed seats to Sask. Party
- The seeds of victory were sown in Regina and Saskatoon, where the Saskatchewan Party picked up five seats — but there were gains in other urban areas, too, that helped seal the election win.
- NDP holds on in Regina, but loses 3 seats
- Fortress Regina continued to stand for the NDP when the dust of Wednesday's election had settled, though its foundation was shaken by a trio of Saskatchewan Party wins.
