POT LAW TO BE REINTRODUCED

Justice Minister Also Plans Bill To Test For Stoned Drivers

OTTAWA -- The federal government plans to reintroduce controversial
legislation to decriminalize marijuana and will accompany it with a
bill giving police power to force drivers to take a test, when
warranted, to determine if 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 in the
next month.

Cotler has no plans to change the legislation decriminalizing
marijuana first introduced by his predecessor Martin Cauchon.

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 anywhere
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.

Unlike with alcohol, 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 will reintroduce legislation to expand the DNA databank,
which matches blood, hair and saliva of convicted criminals against
samples taken at crime scenes.