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Pot issue could encourage voting in federal election: expert

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The federal Liberals are proposing to legalize marijuana and now the Conservatives are considering looser weed laws. Will all the pre-election discussions on pot get more people to the polls?

University of the Fraser Valley Political Scientist Hamish Telford says marijuana is an election issue right now and it actually might encourage some to vote. “Lots of things have been tried to lure out the youth vote and all too often young people say, “Man that’s cool!” and then don’t go vote. Maybe this is the issue that will get more people out.”

He says Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is targeting a younger crowd by selling marijuana legalization. “I think they are obviously going for youth votes. Trudeau presents a younger image. This is a youth friendly policy. It might help mobilize some youth to work for the party and perhaps donate.”

But marijuana is not just an interest to young people, as he says it appeals to an older demographic as well; a group that the Federal Conservatives is trying to reach in order to gain more support.

“Typically middle class, suburban, moderately well-off, and some of those people like to use pot, and I think the Conservatives are trying to win them back,” he says.

The current government is looking into whether ticketing for possession is more effective than criminal charges.

Voter turnout in the 2011 election was a dismal 61 per cent. The next federal election is October 2015.

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