PROPOSED NEW MARIJUANA LAW MISSING THE POINT,
SAYS COLEMAN

KAMLOOPS - B.C.'s solicitor-general says Ottawa's latest proposed
legislation aimed at decriminalizing possession of small amounts of
marijuana is missing the point.

Rich Coleman said Tuesday doubling fines for possession of larger
quantities of pot is meaningless without tougher rulings from the courts.

"So what if you're not going to give your message to the judicial system
that penalties at the lower end is where your problem is?" Coleman said.
"We already have strong enough penalties, in my opinion, for incarceration
in trafficking and cultivation of drugs. But if the court system never
gives out those penalties, it makes no difference whether you double them
again because they're still not being used."

On Monday, the federal Liberal government re-introduced legislation
decriminalizing possession of marijuana for personal use.

Bill C-17 would treat possession of small quantities of pot much like a
speeding ticket.