Pubdate: Tue, 06 May 2003 Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/TorontoSun/home.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457 Author: Bill Rodgers Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular) MP: POT REVAMP STINKS Will fight law change OTTAWA -- A Toronto-area Liberal MP vows to fight a move by the Chretien government to decriminalize possession of small amounts of pot for personal use. Pickering-Ajax-Uxbridge MP Dan McTeague calls it a "colossal" mistake that has not been thought through by the justice minister or the three Grit leadership candidates who support it. "This is a short-sighted policy. In their rush to be trendy, the supporters of this are ignoring the serious economic and social consequences," he said. McTeague said the U.S. would have every right to crack down at border crossings. Last week, U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci warned of slowdowns at the border if the laws change. Today the Supreme Court of Canada is being asked to throw out criminal penalties for simple possession of small amounts of pot on the grounds they violate the Charter of Rights. Government lawyers will be arguing the present law should be upheld, even as Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Justice Minister Martin Cauchon prepare to change it. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh