Pubdate: Wed, 10 Dec 2003
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Doug Beazley
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?218 
(Canadian Senate Committee on Illegal Drugs)

POT FLASHBACK ON TAP

Martin To Bring Back Marijuana Bill, Says Aide

The federal government's controversial marijuana decriminalization
bill is coming back to the Commons in 2004 - and the U.S. ambassador
is already warning of reduced border access for Canadian trade and
travel.

Brian Guest, a spokesman for Paul Martin's office, said yesterday the
prime minister-elect backs getting rid of criminal penalties for
possession of small amounts of weed, and plans to put the idea to a
free vote of MPs after Parliament resumes next month.

"Paul Martin supports legislation that would remove the threat of a
lifetime criminal record for those caught in possession of small
amounts of marijuana," said Guest. "The bill will come forward in the
next session, and it will be voted on in accordance with the
principles of democratic reform."

But that could be the bill's undoing - decriminalization has divided
the Grit caucus and a free vote might defeat the bill.

And while U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci acknowledged yesterday Canada
has the right to set its own drug policy, he warned Ottawa could be
setting the stage for a border crackdown if the bill makes weed easier
to get in Canada.

"Our concern is the perception of this is that this is a weakening of
the law... that it will be easier to get marijuana in Canada," he said
during an Edmonton stopover.

"Our customs and immigration officers, they're law-enforcement
officers. If they think it's easier to get marijuana in Canada,
they're going to be on the lookout for it.

"That's going to put pressure on the border at a time when we've been
trying to take pressure off it. We don't want to have a lot of young
people having their vehicles inspected when they're crossing the border."

The bill that fell off the order paper when Parliament shut down last
month made possession of a gram or less of marijuana subject to a
summary conviction and a fine. Guest said the gram limit might be
changed by a parliamentary committee when the bill comes back, but
wouldn't speculate further.

The bill's return might surprise a few of Martin's longtime supporters
in caucus. Many backbenchers believed Martin, anxious to avoid a
confrontation with Washington and the far-tougher U.S. drug laws,
would let the bill die a quiet death.

"Assume he thinks it's not worth the trouble when he's trying to
repair relations with the U.S.," said Liberal MP Roger Gallaway.

"This bill was a remnant of Jean Chretien's last-minute sharp turn to
the left. The fewer pieces of legislation Martin has left over from
Chretien, the more he signals a psychological shift to a new regime."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin