MARIJUANA BILL TO BE INTRODUCED NEXT WEEK

Will Decriminalize Small Amounts

The Justice Department will finally introduce its marijuana bill on
Tuesday, after it was suddenly pulled earlier this month amid last-minute
haggling within the Liberal ranks.

The bill, which would decriminalize possession of less that 15 grams of
marijuana, will dovetail with a new national drug strategy that will
provide millions of dollars for drug education, prevention and treatment.

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon is expected to face dissent from police,
who want marijuana possession to remain a criminal offence.

"We are completely against it," said Sophie Roux, spokeswoman for the
Canadian Police Association.

The association contends that marijuana leads to more serious drug use.

People caught with less than 15 grams -- the equivalent of about 15
cigarettes -- would be ticketed as little as $100 for youths and $150 for
adults.

Under the new legislation, it would not be a crime to be caught with small
amounts of marijuana while driving, mainly because there is currently no
means of testing for marijuana impairment, unlike a breathalyser test for
alcohol.

The bill will also stiffen penalties against marijuana grow operations,
which are springing up across the country, and instruct judges to treat
drug traffickers harshly.

Mr. Cauchon, who has admitted to smoking marijuana in the past, says that
he is decriminalizing small amounts so that people won't be saddled with a
criminal record.

The bill is being introduced despite repeated warnings from the United
States that decriminalization will lead to more intense border checks and
delays.

The Canadian Alliance -- and some backbench Liberals -- want the government
to set the decriminalization amount at five grams.