Pubdate: Wed, 14 May 2003 Source: Toronto Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2003 The Toronto Star Contact: http://www.thestar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456 Author: Tonda MacCharles Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) NEW DRUG STRATEGY TO TARGET TRAFFICKERS Focus To Be On Prevention 15 Grams Of Pot A Minor Offence OTTAWA--A renewed National Drug Strategy expected to be tabled this week will include spending more than $200 million over five years on more drug enforcement and education and prevention programs. The legislative package will make possession of less than 15 grams of marijuana a minor offence that would incur a $100 fine but not a jail term or a criminal record, sources say. The 15-gram cut-off is half what a Commons committee suggested last year could be considered "a small amount" for the purposes of decriminalization. Insiders say the smaller amount reflects the high potency of marijuana available today. Police would have discretion to lay a criminal charge or issue a ticket against a person caught with an amount between 15 to 30 grams, sources said. And possession of more than 30 grams would remain a criminal offence that could bring a jail term. At the same time, the Liberal government is expected to double criminal sanctions for drug traffickers, target illegal growers of pot, and put more resources into law enforcement to prevent what the U.S. says is a growing cross-border traffic in high-grade marijuana. Yesterday, Prime Minister Jean Chretien emphasized that simple marijuana possession would remain illegal, and downplayed American opposition to the Liberal government's plan, even as Justice Minister Martin Cauchon flew to Washington to give a preview of the plan to the U.S. attorney-general. Chretien suggested after the weekly cabinet meeting that the recent outcry in the U.S. was merely "a problem of presentation." "We are modernizing the sentences for marijuana. It's not legal. We will not make it legal. The sentences will be different. They will be tougher for the growers, the trafficker, and less tough for people who use it in small quantity. But it's still illegal." The bill may be introduced Friday, or postponed until after a week-long parliamentary adjournment next week. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom