Pubdate: Thu, 15 May 2003
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Page: A7
Copyright: 2003, The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.globeandmail.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Kim Lunman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/ashcroft.htm (Ashcroft, John)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

OTTAWA DELAYS INTRODUCTION OF MARIJUANA LEGISLATION

Cauchon Denies Move Is Due To Meeting With American Attorney-General Ashcroft

OTTAWA -- The Liberal government has put off its plans to table legislation 
to decriminalize marijuana this week -- a move opposition critics decried 
as bowing to pressure from the U.S. government.

But Justice Minister Martin Cauchon played down suggestions he is stalling 
tabling the bill because of a meeting a day earlier with U.S. 
Attorney-General John Ashcroft in Washington.

"We meet on a regular basis," he said. "It was a cordial meeting and I said 
I would be [introducing] the policy shortly after the week break."

Parliament does not sit next week, so the bill would not be tabled until 
the last week of May at the earliest.

"I believe that the policy we table will be good for Canada and we'll make 
sure the government sends a good message," Mr. Cauchon added.

New Democrat MP Libby Davies, a member of a special parliamentary committee 
on the non-medical use of drugs, saw the timing of the legislation after 
the meeting in the United States as "suspicious."

"Mr. Cauchon has been promising this legislation repeatedly," the Vancouver 
MP said. "It's outrageous he would get his marching orders from the States. 
He has to come clean with what his agenda is."

The changes to Canada's marijuana laws were expected to be introduced in 
Parliament today and lobby groups were told in advance that the legislation 
would be tabled this week.

Mr. Cauchon said the meeting with his U.S. counterpart was "cordial," but 
would not elaborate on the U.S. administration's concerns.

"It's [not up] to me to comment on their position," he said.

The Liberal government plan is to decriminalize possession of small amounts 
of marijuana. The change would do away with criminal fines and jail terms 
for people convicted of possession of limited quantities. Instead, they 
would be fined in much the same manner as a traffic violation.

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

Federal sources have told The Globe and Mail that the proposed law would 
decriminalize possession of under 15 grams of marijuana. Depending upon how 
they are rolled, that amount of cannabis is equal to about 20 cigarettes.

U.S. officials, including White House director of drug-control policy John 
Walters, have expressed concerns that such a move would result in more pot 
flowing across the border.

It was unclear yesterday why the Liberals had pushed the tabling of the 
legislation back until month's end, but Health Minister Anne McLellan said 
she is still waiting to secure funding for a national drug strategy to 
coincide with the bill.

"When I'm satisfied that I have what I need in terms of the requisite 
levels of funding to do the components that relate to at least my 
department, than I'll move forward," she said. "But I'm not going to move 
forward until then.

"In fact, some would argue you need that strategy, especially the 
education, information and community-support component in place before you 
start talking about changing the penalties around possession of small 
amounts of marijuana."

Ms. McLellan also warned that more Canadians would be smoking pot -- at 
least in the short-term -- after Ottawa decriminalizes the drug.

Reports from a dozen U.S. states that have dropped criminal sanctions for 
simple pot possession indicate there's an increase in use of marijuana 
immediately after the law is changed, she said.

But Ms. McLellan said the levels of usage would eventually drop back to 
normal and that her department is polishing a national drug strategy to 
educate Canadians about the health-related dangers of smoking marijuana.

"Certainly one has to be ready to deal with that spike," she said. "It can 
lead to addiction. It can lead to all sorts of situations within local 
communities. You need to be ready with information, with education and with 
treatment."

In recent days, Prime Minister Jean Chretien has said the proposed law to 
decriminalize marijuana will also saddle drug dealers and pot growers with 
tougher jail sentences.

"The smoking of marijuana is not a good thing," Ms. McLellan said. "It is 
not a good thing. That's the bottom line."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager