Pubdate: Tue, 29 May 2001
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2001, Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.fyitoronto.com/torsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Mark Dunn

PM: NO PLANS TO REDUCE PENALTY FOR POT

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Jean Chretien says there are no plans to 
decriminalize pot possession "at this time."

Chretien says he favours the government's position that allows marijuana 
use for medical purposes, but welcomes the buzz in an emerging debate over 
decriminalization. He stressed that decriminalization "is not part of the 
government's agenda at this time."

Earlier yesterday, the Canadian Police Association charged that MPs, 
senators and some police chiefs are being seduced by a shadowy drug lobby 
that wants possession of pot decriminalized.

Canada's rank-and-file cops made a pitch before a Senate committee 
yesterday warning of the evils of decriminalizing marijuana, trotting out 
the 1950s argument that smoking pot is a "gateway" to harder drugs.

Opposition

"Canada must resist the seductive temptations being advanced by a 
sophisticated drug lobby," David Griffin, executive director of the CPA, 
said at a news conference. He refused to identify the lobby.

Griffin fingered MPs including Tory Leader Joe Clark, who supports 
decriminalization of small amounts of weed, and Canadian Alliance MP Keith 
Martin, who introduced a private member's bill in the Commons earlier this 
month calling for decriminalizing simple possession.

"Perceived tolerance by community leaders is sending ... confusing messages 
to our young people," Griffin said.

Supporters of decriminalization such as the Association of Canadian Police 
Chiefs and RCMP favour handing out tickets to people caught with small 
amounts of marijuana -- a move they say will save scarce resources and ease 
the clogged court system.
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MAP posted-by: Beth