Pubdate: Sun, 27 Apr 2003 Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB) Copyright: 2003 The Calgary Sun Contact: http://www.fyicalgary.com/calsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67 Author: Bill Rodgers, Ottawa Bureau Chief Bookmarks: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) http://www.mapinc.org/people/Martin+Cauchon (Justice Minister Martin Cauchon) NEW LAW JUST THE TICKET OTTAWA -- One day, in the not too distant future, a cop could spot a teenager smoking a joint and, instead of issuing the young adult a summons to appear in court, the offender will receive a ticket. As with any traffic or parking ticket, the choice will be to plead guilty and pay a fine within 30 days or take a chance with the cop and the courts. Whatever way is chosen, there will be a record of the offence but the accused will not face a criminal record that could haunt him or her for years to come. That is what federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon foresees when he talks about decriminalizing simple possession, for personal use, of the evil weed. It shows how far Canadian society has come in just a few short years. Cauchon wants to have his legislation before the House of Commons before it recesses for the summer. "I'd like to" he told Sun Media in an interview, adding, "We're trying to move ahead as quickly as we can." More than 30,000 Canadians are charged under the Criminal Code every year for simple possession of marijuana. Conviction can mean up to six months in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000. The problem, Cauchon says, is the law is not enforced consistently across the country. "There's a special regime in place now -- from zero to 30 grams -- and what I'm saying is when you have a (law) that you don't apply in a meaningful (way) across Canada, and (it doesn't) reflect where you are as a society, I believe it's time to look at it," said Cauchon. In a speech in Toronto last month, Cauchon called the law a "blunt instrument" that is only effective if it is applied equally from coast to coast. But the justice minister said that is no longer the case in Canada. "Children ... may not be charged if they are caught in Toronto, but kids in small towns ... are being charged for exactly the same behaviour" and are "ending up with a criminal conviction." Cauchon believes that moving away from selective enforcement to issuing tickets to offenders would actually result in more enforcement of the possession offence, noting that has been the experience in Australia. A Commons committee has recommended that Canadians caught with less than 30 grams of pot -- about enough to fill a sandwich bag -- be issued a ticket and a fine. A Senate committee, however, went much further, recommending outright legalization of cannabis for anybody 16 and over. That would make Canada one of the most cannabis-friendly nations in the world. The justice minister has rejected that idea, telling Sun Media that making grass a controlled but legal substance "is not the message that we want to send as a society and as a government. The use of marijuana is harmful to our population and we're not talking about changing the law, we're talking about being more effective and more efficient" in enforcing the law. The vast majority of Canadians seem to agree with Cauchon's approach. A SES/Sun Media poll last February showed 69% of Canadians favoured the decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana. Support was strong in all regions of the country and among all age groups. "My belief is that people understand now that we're not talking about legalizing. We're talking about decriminalization," said Cauchon. It's an important distinction and one the minister hopes will be understood by the U.S., which has some of the toughest drug laws anywhere. But even there, Cauchon says, some state governors are taking a more liberal view of small amounts of pot. "There are over 10 states actually that are dealing with the question of simple possession for personal use of marijuana in different ways," he said. Cauchon still has some hurdles to jump, which is why introduction of legislation on the issue has been delayed. The justice minister confidently predicted to reporters late last year that he would have a bill before the House by the end of March. Now, there is no certainty it will happen before Parliament's summer recess. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake