CANADA MOVES TOWARD EASING MARIJUANA LAWS

TORONTO - The Canadian government introduced legislation Tuesday to
decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, a move that U.S.
officials said could increase the amount of marijuana smuggled across the
border.
Under the bill, possession of up to 15 grams of marijuana, about a
half-ounce, would become punishable by fines of up to the equivalent of
about $290 for adults and $182 for minors. Backed by Prime Minister Jean
Chretien's ruling Liberal Party, the measure has a good chance of passage
due to the party's strong majority in Parliament, political analysts said.

Chretien is proceeding despite firm opposition from the Bush
administration, which views the measure as encouraging drug use and
creating an environment of permissiveness.

``Some of the strongest and most dangerous marijuana on the U.S. market is
coming from Canada,'' John Walters, director of the White House Office of
National Drug Control Policy, said in a telephone interview Tuesday. ``That
production has been rapidly expanding and is largely unchecked.''

Canadian officials estimate that $4 billion to $7 billion worth of Canadian
marijuana is sold in the United States each year.

The proposed law is also unpopular with some Canadian groups, including
opposition parties and police organizations.

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, who introduced the bill in Parliament,
said at a news conference in Ottawa, the capital, that most Canadians
prefer that possession of small amounts of the drug become a ``ticketing
offense.'' ``We are not legalizing marijuana. We have no plans to do so. We
are changing the way we prosecute certain offenses,'' Cauchon said.

``Cannabis consumption is first and foremost a health matter,'' he
continued. ``It should not result in criminal penalties. We have to ask
ourselves as a society: Does it make sense that a person who makes a bad
choice can receive the lasting burden of a criminal record?. ... The
legislation I introduced today will make sure the punishment fits the crime.''

Decriminalization, officials said, would be accompanied by a national
campaign to alert Canadians to the dangers of drug use.

The bill would also increase penalties for people who grow marijuana
illegally. Small amounts may be grown legally by Canadians who need
marijuana for medical reasons.

As the United States moves toward tougher penalties for drug crimes, Canada
appears to be mellowing toward small- time drug use, focusing instead on
``harm reduction'' strategies for users.

In some Canadian cities, most notably Vancouver, heroin users shoot up in
broad daylight on street corners littered with needles, and some people
openly smoke marijuana in pot cafes. Some provincial officials have
proposed setting up safe injection sites, supervised places where heroin
and cocaine users would receive clean needles and inject themselves.