POT BILL BANS POLICE SHARING OF INFO ABROAD

Change To Proposed Decriminalization Law

OTTAWA -- Under a proposed law, Canadians who are caught with small amounts
of marijuana need no longer worry about police sharing the information with
the U.S. or other foreign governments or agencies.

The prohibition was added to the bill to decriminalize marijuana when it
was revived yesterday after dying when Parliament adjourned in November.

"It's a significant amendment for sure," acknowledged Justice Department
spokesman Patrick Charette.

The head of the Canadian Council of Criminal Defence Lawyers described the
ban as a "bold statement," considering that police forces have been sharing
more information internationally since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks in the United States.

"If this information was shared, it defeats the purpose of giving people a
chance," said Bill Trudell.

The change was made at the recommendation of a special parliamentary
committee that held public hearings on the bill last fall.

Witnesses said more Canadians would probably be flagged by U.S. authorities
as a result of the federal government changing its laws to make possession
of 15 grams of marijuana or less a ticketing offence. The bill proposes
fines of $100 to $400.

The thinking behind the amendment was that police would be more inclined to
ticket under the new scheme than they would have been to lay criminal
charges. That would mean more people could conceivably end up in a police
database that could be accessed internationally.

"One of the potential consequences is that it stigmatizes young Canadians
in that it impedes their movement across the border," said Toronto lawyer
Paul Burstein.

Police oppose the Liberal government's marijuana bill and Sophie Roux, a
spokeswoman for the Canadian Provincial Police Association, said the
amendment "is not buying them any points with us."

The change comes at a time when Prime Minister Paul Martin says he is
trying rebuild Canada's relationship with the U.S., which has been
irritated, in part, by the marijuana decriminalization plan.

Although Martin has suggested the marijuana bill could also be changed to
decrease the amount of pot possession that would be decriminalized, the
reinstated bill did not lower that bar.

But further amendments are expected as the bill winds its way through the
parliamentary system in the coming weeks. Federal officials say the
timetable will be tight for the bill to pass before the federal election
expected this spring.

The reinstated bill was also amended to decriminalize cultivating marijuana
if it's less than four plants -- making it an offence punishable with a
ticket rather than a criminal record.

The former bill proposed to keep growing pot as a criminal offence with a
maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $5,000 fine, compared with the
proposed sanction of a $500 fine for adults and a $250 fine for youths.