Pubdate: Fri, 13 Dec 2002 Source: Toronto Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2002 The Toronto Star Contact: http://www.thestar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456 Author: Tonda MacCharles MPS PUSH FOR LOOSER LAWS ON POT POSSESSION Carrying Around 30 Joints Would Merit Ticket, Fine U.S. Drug Czar Warns Canada Against Move OTTAWA—They couldn't say how many "joints" 30 grams of marijuana produces, but a Commons committee of MPs recommended yesterday Canadians should be able to grow and carry around that much for "personal use" at risk only of a ticket and fine, not a criminal record. Under recommendations that immediately drew fire from the top drug official in the United States, marijuana would remain an illegal substance, and "trafficking" in any amount would remain a crime. But the majority of the Liberal-dominated committee, in an echo of a Senate committee report and recent comments by Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, said enforcement of current criminal laws against simple possession is expensive, uneven, "unfair and wasteful" and stigmatizes young people with a criminal record for life. The head of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, John Walters, warned Canada yesterday border security would be tightened further if the federal government relaxed its criminal laws on possession marijuana. "We do not need on either side of the border more of our citizens harmed," Walters told a news conference in Buffalo, N.Y. Cauchon, who this week said he may introduce legislation on decriminalization early next year, said yesterday the government would toughen enforcement efforts on organized crime and commercial traffickers. "We're not talking about making it legal. It's something different. ... We will have to look into the question of the quantity. We're talking about simple possession. But one point which is important, we're talking about being tougher as regards to drug smuggling, drug trafficking and distribution as well." The Canadian Alliance, in a minority dissenting report, warned decriminalization of even 30 grams — which it estimated equals about 30 small "joints" or marijuana cigarettes — amounts to legalizing use and trafficking of the drug. It said a more reasonable threshold for decriminalization would be five grams, or enough for about five or six "joints" — the amount MP Kevin Sorenson (Crowfoot) said is legally sold for personal consumption in cafe's in the Netherlands. "We are not looking at giving criminal records to every single person who has a joint or two in their pocket," said MP Randy White (Langley-Abbotsford). "However, if you can wander around with 20 to 30 marijuana joints for so-called personal use, you have to wonder when personal possession becomes trafficking. Tell that to parents of high school students who will now see pushers who can carry 30 joints around with them, risking no greater fine than they would get if they got a speeding ticket." The committee headed by Liberal MP Paddy Torsney (Burlington) said marijuana smokers or growers caught with an amount over 30 grams would be issued a ticket, pay a fine without a court appearance, and possibly risk losing something "substantial" like a driver's licence if they fail to pay the fine. The committee also recommended more drug prevention and education programs on the risk of marijuana use. The Commons committee's recommendations did not go as far as the NDP wanted, or as far as a Senate committee did in September when it called for a national drug strategy that would legalize cannabis use by all Canadian residents over 16. NDP MP Libby Davies (Vancouver East) agreed personal use should be legalized, and yesterday issued a minority report that called for an amnesty for the estimated 600,000 Canadians who now have criminal convictions for simple possession. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart