Pubdate: Tue, 21 Mar 2000
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2000, Canoe Limited Partnership.
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Author: Mark Dunn, Ottawa Bureau

LIBERALS WON'T CUT GRASS LAW

The Feds are in no hurry to change the law to allow Canadians to legally fire up a joint.

Justice Minister Anne McLellan said yesterday decriminalizing
possession of small amounts of pot is not on the government's
legislative radar.

"I am not going to move on it anytime soon," McLellan said after
giving a speech to the Canadian Police Association, where she
announced $20 million in new funding over four years to assist victims
of crime.

GRIT CONVENTION

Her comments come a day after delegates to the Liberal convention in
Ottawa overwhelmingly rejected a motion to legalize the use of
marijuana, but passed a watered down resolution to decriminalize
possession of small amounts.

The CPA wants the law to remain unchanged, while the Canadian
Association of Police Chiefs says possessing 30 grams or less of pot
should not lead to a criminal record.

The chiefs argue dwindling police resources could be better spent
fighting other crimes instead of busting potheads.

But CPA president Grant Obst says decriminalizing tiny amounts would
make it harder for police to nab drug traffickers.
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