08.22.2013 07:30 AM

Drug wars

The Liberal standard bearer has tried pot a few times and doesn’t drink coffee.

Two of the top Conservative icons, meanwhile, haven’t sued anyone for stating one of them smokes crack and the other was a major drug dealer.

I like the Liberal’s chances.

101 Comments

  1. Joe Archibald says:

    I suspect the CPC spin on this will be Justin doesn’t drink coffee and so can’t relate to the “Tims” crowd.

    • Danny says:

      No, the CPC spin will line up with the ‘He is in over his head’ line of attack. Something like ‘lots of people smoked pot when they are young, most gave it up when they grew up. Maybe Justin will too.’

  2. Brad Young says:

    So nice to see some honesty from a politician. It appears he is human unlike the android who is flying all over northern Canada spending our money on what is essentially a campaign trip.

    • Philippe says:

      Lol.. android describes him so well. Harper pretends to be a Tim Hortons guy but he isn’t one of us. On the other hand I feel like Justin (for all his flaws) is closer to the average Canadian.

    • Vankleek Hill says:

      Honesty? Don’t know about that. His golly shucks shtick claiming sometimes he had a puff in his friend’s joint circle, and never bought any, made me groan. A pay-raise in order, to his PR team for crafting a good story!

      That said, I think it should be legalized, and support that plank.

      • Ottawa Civil Servant says:

        Who the hell wants an average Canadian? Wasn’t it all hail to the University jet-setting prophet just last election? And isn’t this just a spin on Clinton’s “I never inhaled” crap? Talk about wanting your cake and eating it, too. For Christ’s sake, get off the pot (pun intended) and give a forthright and defensible answer.

        You are an artsy scion of a moneyed family who grew up in a drug experimenting age where pot was de rigeur.

        As for Ford, Toronto deserves him and no Tory party in the country would let him run for Premier, or Prime Minister. The seat of Liberal strength (Toronto) elected Ford. Calgary, on the other hand, went another way.

    • Bruce says:

      Honesty? I guess the only time Trudeau ever smoked pot was when he was with Marc Emery then…

  3. Yes.

    If the Conservative Party decides to do a “stinky hippy” attack or – the more likely – “here we are facing serious problems, and what does Trudeau think is important? Pot legalization. Not ready to lead.” – it may well backfire upon them as badly as John Tory’s federal PCs ad featuring Jean Chretien’s mouth. Blue haired folks from the blue laws days are dwindling in number, as they head to their eternal abode: the backbone of conservative prohibitionism is withering badly, and we may finally have reached the tipping point.

    I kind of hope the Conservatives DO go on the attack on this issue. And, I hope Trudeau’s team knows how to respond (and that it DOES respond). The wrong way: suggest that ending prohibition is the most important thing we need to do. The right way: “Here we are facing serious problems, and what do the Harper Conservatives think is important? Cannabis prohibition. What have they been smoking (cue allusions to crack allegations)? . It’s time to tell the Conservatives that the 1950s are over. ”

    Okay, sure, it’s just crudely formed at this point. But the point is: focus on the uncool, and the fetishistic nature of the de facto Conservative Party obsession with cannabis, and I think the pot attack backfires.

    Please keep in mind: I’ve got no horse in this race. I’m not a member or supporter of any registered federal political party.

    • MCBellecourt says:

      Justin has opened a can of worms. Most people at first glance don’t think legalization of pot is that big a deal, but when you sit back and think about it, it is huge.

      First, the tax revenue. The potential is huge, as long as they don’t go overboard like they did tobacco (Doing that would create another black market). The second is manufacturing potential. Pot’s close cousin, hemp, is the best damned base for building materials on the planet. Far more productive than wood, naturally ant-and termite-proof, and the crop is renewable every year, while trees take lots of years to become harvestable.

      Then there’s the medical potential. Legalization gives Canada an opportunity to lead in the research that this could generate.

      Yeah, it is a big deal. A really big deal. There’s more, but you can do some Googling and see for yourself.

      We need this. Our economy needs this. The Cons have messed up our economy so badly that this might be the very thing it will take to pull us back up again.

    • “What have they been drinking?” – >> http://twitpic.com/d9r8nj

  4. Allan MacDougall says:

    Atleast he cannot be labelled a “latte sipping liberal”. Lol

  5. While I’m at it: a shameless plug of my 2010 two-part documentary, “The Principle of Pot”. Note – in this trailer for Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsZ8ffy2gqI ) the sequence in which Prime Minister Harper condemns those who romanticize cannabis/drug culture, then romanticizes it. (Note: not sure why, but the short Chretien clip in the middle of the trailer loses its audio).

    Those interested in watching the whole documentary can do so for free, here: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF9E287D95F11495A

    Cheers,

    Paul

  6. Philippe says:

    I love this guy’s honesty. Even non pot smokers such as myself appreciate his candour.. really feels like he’s one of us. How amazingly refreshing. Bravo Justin, keep up the honesty.

  7. steve says:

    My choice for PM inhaled. My choice for PM puts good policy over good politics, that’s how my country became the envy of most of the world.

  8. deb s says:

    the only thing the Fords could do now, is to start a legalize all drugs campaign, clean up the streets by making the street drugs taxable. That might pay for some transit plans in Toronto.

    • Tiger says:

      Legalizing it all — i.e., returning to a 19th century drugs policy — would have the virtue of being good public policy… Defunding organized crime, protecting property rights, etc.

      • dave says:

        Sometimes I think that if, 90 or so years ago, we had just let heroin, cocaine and marijuana alone, then a market for the lab drugs we have today would never have had a chance.

        • Tiger says:

          Oh, I think they’d still have developed.

          But we wouldn’t have the huge sums of money going to organized crime that we now have.

          • dave says:

            I agree with you, tiger, that we are sending a pile of money, and influence, to organized crime. I often think that influence is used way too much on our politicians.
            I think also it enables the increasing of powers to our police.

            With yr 1st point, tho, my thinking is that if coke and smack were legal, and likely a lot cheaper and easier to get, there would be ittle to no mass market to support the designer narcotics. The market would not demand it at all…no one would take the risk to design and produce something that returns so little.

    • Elisabeth Lindsay says:

      Pot heads out here on the West Coast are very much against the legalization if it amounts to them having to pay tax on it. Huge problem!

  9. Marc L says:

    There are two issues here. First, the problem is not that he smoked pot. The problem is that he did as an MP — this is not something from his distant past. Second — and this I care more about — pot is the only area in which he has articulated something that looks even remotely like a policy stance. So he smokes pot, he wants it legalized, and that is the only issue that he seems to have thought about. That is pretty sad, really. How about giving us more than a pretty face, a pretty pregnant wife, and a stand on pot to vote for.

    • Philippe says:

      This isn’t a story about Trudeau smoking pot (although that will win him votes- even the Sun crowd loves it)- it’s a story about a politician that projects honesty- a rare and refreshing thing.

      • Marc L says:

        I agree. He’s being honest. But smoking pot when a sitting MP reflects a lack of judgement.

        • Philippe says:

          Marc,

          I know a schoolteacher (with 4 kids), 2 doctors and several lawyers that use cannabis on a regular basis for recreational use. They’re all very successful at their careers, and life in general. Do they also lack judgement?

          I think we can all rest assured he’s far from the only sitting MPP who smokes pot- the others are simply too chicken to admit it. The winds of change have already started in the US on this- the Uruguay and Portugal models are the way of the future. Trudeau is brilliant to get ahead of the curve on this one.

          This is a vote-getter across all demographics (not just young burnouts), just watch.

          • Marc L says:

            Philippe, no your schoolteacher, 2 doctors and several lawyers do not lack judgement. No more than the thousands who get pissed drinking beer every Friday night. Justin lacks judgement because he is a sitting MP. I don’t care if he smoked before sitting as an MP or after. But as an MP he is an elected official and a lawmaker. To my knowledge, pot is not yet legal in Canada. The only way to get it is to purchase it from criminals.
            As for his stance on legalizing Marijuana, I agree in principle. I don’t think he has really thought it out that well though — he doesn’t actually seem to have the ability to think through much of anything. For example, how would he deal with the border issues with the U.S.? That’s the problem with Justin. he just talks in vague generalities and bromides.

        • robin says:

          Paying $16.00 for a glass of orange juice, spending $1,000.00 in one day for limo service and spending $129,000.00 in ineligible travel expenses, accepting $90,000.00 from the PM’s Chief of Staff, make this pale in comparison; also, re-deploying police resources to violent and major crimes instead of arresting young people for pot possession makes sense especially if it turns into a net tax revenue generator instead of a net loss in police, legal and court costs not to mention the human cost of incarcerating non-violent and otherwise law abiding citizens while saddling them with a criminal record… Justin is on the right track, regardless of what he may or may not be smoking or inhaling rarely. Maybe it is his caffeine, alcohol and nicotine free mind!!

        • Richard says:

          How? He’s an intelligent individual who is capable of making rational decisions. He didn’t make it to where he is today by being on the couch for 10 hours a day with a doobie in his mouth while playing video games and eating Cheetos. Clearly he’s demonstrated that he’s able to bust his ass to earn one of the most coveted and highly visible positions in the country, while having an occasional toke during his downtime. Chill out, maaaaan.

          Was it a lack of judgment when Chretien joked about having a joint in one hand and his money for the fine in the other when they were talking about decriminalization TEN YEARS AGO??

    • Windsurfer says:

      Look on the positive side. Canada’s voter turnout in 2015 just went from 40% to 45%.

      C A N N O T be good news for the Con Vote Suppressionists.

      I can see it now: Justin stands in front of the camera and says Uncle Sam Needs You – otherwise expressed as : “Canada needs you to get out and vote.”

      This guy’s looking more like a CON nightmare all the time. Pierre’s revenge, might one say.

    • Attack! says:

      “he smokes pot” …and that’s why he’s resolving to change the law on it?

      Puh-leeze. From what’s he’s saying, he’s only ever really smoked a whole joint once, 20 years ago, with only a ‘courtesy puff’ the odd time since, just to be polite or to pretend to look cool. I.e., the same as when Harper pretends to drink. So if Harper liberalized liquor sales, would you say he’s doing it “because he drinks”?

  10. smelter rat says:

    How many CPC MP’s have smoked dope? My guess is….lots.

  11. Marc L says:

    C’mon, his “positions” are just vague generalities and bromides. He wants to increase the standard of living of middle class Canadians. He wants to increase the share of Canadians who have a post-secondary education. Well, don’t we all.
    To your second point, I’m not talking about details and specifics. I’m taking about real issues that define what he stands for. I don’t think in terms of the best way to propel the guy to power. Power to do what? I think in terms of the policies I am voting for, or against. I don’t know where he stands on any of the economic or social issues that I consider important for the country. This is symtomatic of somebody who was propelled to where he is not because of his experience and ideas, but because of his name. If he was Justin Tremblay, he would still be on the back benches. Nobody would even have thought of electing this guy as leader. That bothers me.
    Actually, to come to think of it, I don’t even think he has articulated the pot issue very clearly. He wants to legalize marijuana. That’s nice. Has he thought through the border issues with the U.S. that this would create, and how to solve them, among other problems?

  12. Shane says:

    Not sure if Canadians are ready for weed to be sold at retail. We are not a bold people, I agree with Warren here, this could backfire.

    Most provinces in this country can’t even bare themselves to allow liquor to be sold at private retail. These policies have the support of the majority in those provinces for a reason. What makes progressives think they will accept legalized weed? The LCBO’s social responsibility mandate wasn’t created in a vacuum and the Conservatives can use that to their advantage.

    Now if we could figure out a way to give a legislated retail monopoly to a foreign owned conglomerate, banana republic style, maybe it would fly. Call it the “Weed Store.” I know Ontario is familiar with those and it might be more palatable.

  13. davidray says:

    Re the cons. I’m starting to believe that if we’ve been cheated long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the cheating. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The cheating has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been had. Once you give a crook like Harper power over you, you almost never get it back because those who come after are exactly the same.

  14. Trevor K. says:

    The story here isn’t what Trudeau said or did but rather what Mulcair didn’t say.

    He now has two choices: 1) attack Trudeau and look like an old fuddy duddy and alienate his parts of his base for doing something millions of Canadians have done. 2) Say, that he smokes up in his office and sound like an insincere nark.

    Bottom line is this isn’t the most important issues facing Canada but is one that most Canadians can associate with Justin’s position.

    Love the line comparing this to how the cons backed gun owners who didn’t register their guns.

  15. deb s says:

    watching the news today…it was like JT had announced that he was hooked to heroin…fer chrissakes…he smoked a doob…here and there…and says its not his cup of tea so to speak. Until the guy is messing around dixon rd smoking the pipe…who cares….and apparently cons have the ability to turn a blind eye to a train wreck like Rob Ford…but in the same week start harping on Trudeau that hes a bad role model.
    the really terrible role model in the govt these days is the big kahuna who runs from answering questions…lies outright when he does answer them…and finger pts at everyone else as lacking in responsibility.
    it would make an awesome movie…unfortunately its costing canadians alot more then they realize:P having the focus switch to non issues like Trudeau smoking dope…its ridiculous. I really wish the media and the politicians would stop having the attn span of five yr olds and actually stick with important concepts …how about the upcoimng proroguing of parliament ( for the 50th time:P) or like taxes…deficit…and fraud:P Im including Trudeau in my critique too…I get that he is a stellar politician picking up an issue that will garner him votes…and expose the rightwing as hypocritical whiny babies….but I still would like stuff like Robocalls and Senate spending to be the main issues that need solving.
    if were going to pick a viable hotbutton topic…lets close down the fraser institute for issuing bad reports:)

    • Elisabeth Lindsay says:

      I just think it is pretty incredible that, when they had the Conservatives against the ropes over the Senate, that they chose that time to change the channel to pot.

      • deb s says:

        yeah…exactly…they changed the channel to something less important but I guess in the PR world…they are wagging the dog and they will get votes and that will finish off harper better than complaining about boring old senate reform…which if the whole thing unravels…many libs will be caught out too.

  16. Chris Mantei says:

    Re: JT’s brain on drugs

    “Quitting cannabis has been an important part of her recovery from mental illness, Margaret Trudeau said Monday at a press conference in Vancouver for the Canadian Mental Health Association’s upcoming Bottom Line Conference” (National Post) – the genetic link is troubling, especially as Justin Trudeau is very much like his mother.

    Now, we can only stand by and watch helplessly as Justin Trudeau descends deeper into his messianic delusions evidently fueled by libertinism. If the Liberal Party had any survival instinct the Dauphin would be secretly whisked away for an intensive intervention/extended treatment. But alas… this remains a bad trip I cannot escape from.

    And so, our political landscape remains:

    Harper: power addicted sociopath willing to cut deals with fascist Christian Zionists, corrupt Oil, the Chinese Communist Party, etc. (the neurolandscape of the brain on power or cocaine is almost identical – the greatest aphrodisiac and all that – there is a strong link between asthmatics and stimulant (relaxes bronchia)/power addiction – Che Guevara and Harper are asthmatics)

    Mulcair: hardline socialist, Quebec separatist and supremacist – also, very angry.

    Trudeau: libertine, Quebec supremacist, courtesan to greater powers – the United Nations, the Chinese Communist Party, Castroites, Reviving Islamists, etc.

    Bloc: poached by Mulcair.

    Greens: my suspicion has always been they are a Conservative front group to split the vote. Maybe it’s the grass.

  17. Mulletaur says:

    It’s nice to see LPC give CPC a wedgie for once.

  18. Kaplan says:

    Obama admitted to using cocaine in his past, and the dude was elected president. Different time, different era, and a different context for sure – but let’s not lose site of the power of honesty.

    • deb s says:

      whats interesting about the whole drugs vs time of use issue…is many folks are talking about how JT uses…but they dont look at the difference of what a real problem is. ADDICTION…this post isnt soo much directed at your words…as I agree about the honesty factor…thats what JT and Obama have going for them. But I guess what the real issue that any voter should worry about …is how much….not what. so alcohol is acceptable for social uses…but being an alcoholic is not. I think folks on the right seem to bypass this altogether. JT Isnt an Addict…Rob Ford is.
      Obama did alot of drugs in his youth ( apparently his book tells all) but he didnt take it with him…its not a part of his life,…where As George Bush became an addict…coke and alcohol. He had to quit as it was ruining him.
      Addicts are impaired and make bad choices….someone like JT isnt an addict.
      I was a longtime smoker…I smoked every day…numerous times…to the detriment of my health…I quit and will never pick up another cigarette as myhealth would be affected…i cant just have one. Where as someone like JT…if he says he smoked a cigarette once…the cons suddenly would start shrieking that he supports lung cancer and he is a drain on the health care system.
      the over the top reaction to a statement about smoking dope a few times in his life…is hilarious…meanwhile back in hogtown…sighhh we have a serious addict destroying a world class city:P

  19. Bob says:

    I’m 54 – smoked pot for the first time when I was about 15….smoked maybe 100 times in my life. I believe the vast majority of my generation would say the same thing if they remember high school and university.

    I have friends who are working, raising families and contributing to society… and sometimes we still have a smoke after a dinner party with our scotch.

    • Philippe says:

      Bob, I suspect you represent a huge segment of Canadian society. You’re far from the typical stoner that shows up with rainbow colored-clothing at pot rallies. That’s why this is a vote-getter. calculated or not..,. brilliant move.

  20. Andrew says:

    Is the not drinking coffee suppose to make him sounds virtuous?

  21. Shane says:

    Why do I suspect that the old veteran Liberals (the ones Justin has vowed to replace with youngsters) are plotting the overthrow of the Justinites who stole the LPC leadership vote?

    This Doobie-gate admission may just be the last straw and the Liberal oldsters like Garneau and Goodale will rebel at their coming demise. The LPC will split on this issue, and of that I have no doubt.

  22. !o! says:

    I think it’s brilliant for a variety of reasons.

    Plus the honesty is refreshing, and likely not just to me.

  23. deb s says:

    I like the honesty////and if its a political strategy…well I commend him for that too. I just wish the rightwingers would stop yelling about him being impaired…JT isnt an addict. I mean he did this once or twice…and leads a fairly healthy, active and intellectual lifestyle. He isnt weaving around ottawa drunk as a skunk looking for parties.
    I wish folks would stop to think for a minute what it means to be an addict vs a casual user of any drug.
    impaired judgement all the time as opposed to the occasional after dinner drink or toke.
    and if were talking about addictions…its been written thaan3t harper is a junk food addict….as the PM shouldnt he be a better role model::P

  24. Michael Bussiere says:

    If Harper is going to attack this behaviour, he will have to explain why it is ok for him to get shit-faced on a half-pint of Coors light but it’s not ok for so many of us to get buzzed off a little toot now and then.

  25. Windsurfer says:

    Like, I don’t really care.

    He’s got a pregnant wife, a canoe full of kids, friends who drop by, his heart on his sleeve.

    Steve might not be able to do the first one, I don’t know and I don’t care.

    Steve in a canoe – well, he’d have to have a pack of securitati with him so it wouldn’t be that spontaneous.

    Steve & friends – I’m not even sure if he has any.

    Steve’s heart – cracked. Possibly ossified.

    Anyways, I have no idea what will happen. Maybe Justin will bomb and come in 3rd. Or maybe he’s like the re-embodiment of his dad, who, if I remember correctly from ’68, invigorated a nation for a while, though eventually he became one of ‘them’ and blew the cred on one train trip in ’82.

    So, get involved, take out your membership, put up a sign and buy a burger.

    All comments welcome.

  26. deb s says:

    heres a funny depiction of marijuana, if WK lets me post.
    http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/490/477/335.jpg

  27. David_M says:

    Trudeau steals headlines from Harper’s northern tour.

    • DJ says:

      Very true. I hadn’t thought of that. The Trudeau story plus the PMO’s tussle with the Chinese reporter diverted attention away from Harper’s tour. Wallin keeps stealing headlines too.

  28. Sean says:

    Stephen Harper’s stoopid fucking haircut speaks for itself.

  29. Ronald O'Dowd says:

    Warren,

    My vote will be solely based on my answer to this question:

    Four more years of Stephen Harper, yes or no?

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