Pubdate: Tue, 10 Dec 2002
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2002 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact:  http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Louise Elliott, Canadian Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Safe Injecting Rooms)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)

GRITS TO DECRIMINALIZE POT

Cauchon May Introduce Legislation On Marijuana Early In New Year

OTTAWA (CP) -- The federal government may introduce legislation early in 
the new year to decriminalize the use of marijuana, says Justice Minister 
Martin Cauchon.

"If we're talking about that question of decriminalizing marijuana, we may 
move ahead quickly as a government," he said yesterday outside the House of 
Commons.

"I don't like to give you a date or a time frame, but let's say the 
beginning of next year, the four first months of next year."

Cauchon said the long-awaited bill would depend partly on the views of a 
special Commons committee which studied the use of non-medical drugs.

The committee released the first of two reports yesterday, recommending 
that heroin addicts in major cities should have safe-injection sites and 
needle-exchange programs.

It also said two prisons should be converted into treatment centres for 
inmates. It did not suggest specific locations. Not all committee members 
agreed with yesterday's recommendations, and the Canadian Police 
Association raised alarms.

Canadian Alliance MPs said providing legal shooting galleries is going too far.

"We're not suggesting anyone be soft on drugs," countered Liberal MP Paddy 
Torsney, head of the committee.

But she stressed that while illicit drug use is a crime, it's also a health 
issue.

Ottawa needs to spend significantly more on related health costs and 
educate the public about legal and illicit drugs, Torsney said.

The committee says Ottawa should "remove any federal regulatory or 
legislative barriers" to ease the way for safe-injection sites and to track 
how well they work. Health Canada pre-empted the committee last week when 
it issued guidelines for how safe-injection drug sites will operate at 
pilot sites, likely in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.

Such "harm-reduction" strategies revolve around the idea that at least drug 
users can be monitored and put in touch with health workers.

Police point out that crime is frequently the means by which addicts get 
their drugs.

A second report is due Thursday. That report is expected to recommend that 
growing pot for personal use should not be a crime.

Sources familiar with the work of the committee said the move to 
decriminalize marijuana would still make the possession of pot illegal, but 
the punishment would be a fine rather than a criminal record.

"If you're going to decriminalize marijuana where is a person supposed to 
get it?" said one well-placed source, who confirmed that the committee is 
in favour of letting Canadians grow their own pot.

A Senate committee report issued in September went even further, saying 
marijuana should be legalized for use by anybody over the age of 16.

The committee found that moderate use of the drug poses no serious 
long-term dangers for adults and could be sold under controlled 
circumstances, like liquor or in drug stores.
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