FEDS TO REINTRODUCE POT DECRIMINALIZATION BILL, WITH WRINKLE

OTTAWA -- The federal government is poised to reintroduce
controversial legislation to decriminalize marijuana and will
accompany it with a bill giving police the power to force drivers to
take a test, when warranted, to prove whether they are driving while
stoned.

In an interview with The Montreal Gazette, Justice Minister Irwin
Cotler said he plans to introduce both pieces of legislation sometime
in the next month.

Nor does Cotler have any plans to change the legislation
decriminalizing marijuana first introduced by his predecessor Martin
Cauchon. "It might get changed in committee but we are basically
reintroducing that legislation."

Legislation to decriminalize marijuana is just one of several changes
Cotler says he plans to make in a bid to overhaul Canada's criminal
justice system.

While many of Cotler's initiatives were not spelled out in last week's
throne speech, he said his plans are reflected in the principles
outlined in the speech such as a commitment to human rights and
defending the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Cotler took a first step last week, introducing a bill to protect
vulnerable persons from things such as child pornography and a second
bill concerning those with mental disorders. However, that's just the
start of what he plans to accomplish.

"If I were to look at our legislative and parliamentary agenda, I
think we probably, proportionately, have as many if not more bills
from our department and that relate to criminal justice than any where
else in the government."

While Cotler plans to lessen the penalty for those caught with small
amounts of marijuana, he will also give police more powers to stop and
test, when warranted, those who smoke pot and then get behind the wheel.

Currently, the law obliges drivers to submit to a breathalyser test if
police suspect they have been driving under the influence of alcohol,
but there has been no legal obligation for anyone to submit to a test
to determine whether they are under the influence of marijuana, he
said.

"Now a technology has been developed which allows for a parallel
process with regard to drug-impaired driving to be investigated and
enforced as we have for alcohol-impaired driving."

Cotler also plans to give police more tools by reintroducing
legislation to expand the existing DNA databank, which matches the
blood, hair and saliva of convicted criminals against samples taken at
crimes scenes.

The plight of sex-trade workers is also one of Cotler's concerns. "We
want to look at how sex-trade workers can be protected and what
legislative initiatives need to take place in that regard."