Pubdate: Sun, 11 May 2003
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2003 The Edmonton Journal
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: David Howell

CHANGES TO POT LAWS MUST BRING HEALTH FOCUS

McLellan Wants Education Part Of New Drug Strategy

EDMONTON - Federal Health Minister Anne McLellan supports decriminalizing 
marijuana possession if the move is accompanied by a new national drug 
strategy of education, information and treatment.

"Nobody should be under any illusions that it's healthy to smoke 
marijuana," McLellan said in Edmonton Saturday. "It isn't."

The federal government is expected to unveil legislation this week aimed at 
decriminalizing possession of marijuana in amounts below 15 grams.

The proposals would also include a new strategy designed by Health Canada 
to discourage the use of drugs.

"I think you have the support system you have to have in place to make sure 
people don't misinterpret what you're doing on the decriminalization side," 
McLellan said.

"I focus on the health elements of this, and the national drug strategy -- 
education, information, treatment, and making sure young people and their 
families understand that this in no way sends a message that marijuana is a 
good thing, and that smoking marijuana is a good thing."

Ottawa is still conducting clinical trials to determine whether or not 
marijuana has medicinal benefits, McLellan said.

"But we know that smoking the stuff is not a healthy thing."

Canada's proposals to soften marijuana laws have come under sharp criticism 
from United States officials. McLellan said American concerns about 
cross-border trafficking of Canadian marijuana must be heeded.

"There is absolutely no way that we can be an exporter of this new 
high-potent strain of marijuana into the U.S. or even into other parts of 
the Americas," she said.

"Some of this stuff from B.C. is now ending up in the streets of Mexico 
City. That is simply unacceptable and that is where interdiction is important."

Canadian police must be given the resources they need to shut down illegal 
grow operations, she added.

"The police at this point seem to be fighting pretty much an uphill battle 
in some parts of British Columbia, perhaps even in some parts of our own 
province. As you look at things like decriminalization, you also have to 
make sure you're doing all the other things as part and parcel of this, 
like shutting down illegal grow operations.

"And, yeah, the United States has every right to be upset that we've got so 
many of these illegal grow-ops in places like the interior of British 
Columbia. We have got to make sure we are providing the resources to shut 
them all down."

Sources told The Globe and Mail that under the new law, individuals found 
with less than 15 grams would be ticketed and fined under the federal 
Contraventions Act.

The Toronto Star reported Saturday that a person convicted of possessing a 
small amount of pot would not register a criminal record. Sources told the 
paper that the Liberal government will propose tougher measures to target 
illegal marijuana-growing operations, including the doubling of penalties 
for drug trafficking.

Currently, anyone found with 30 grams or less can be charged with common 
possession of the drug, while anyone with more than that amount can be 
prosecuted for intent to sell.

Federal officials decided on a 15-gram limit because the drug has become 
more potent in recent years, the Globe reported. Depending on how they are 
rolled, 15 grams of cannabis can produce about 20 joints.

Those pushing for decriminalization say the current law unfairly 
stigmatizes those who are caught, causing difficulties with crossing the 
border and finding work.

Police must also spend substantial amounts of time processing the 
paperwork, and the law is often applied unevenly, with some people being 
let off with a warning while others are charged.
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