PENALTIES TO DOUBLE FOR GROWING MARIJUANA

Cauchon To Brief U.S. Government On Proposals

The federal government plans to double the maximum penalty for anyone
convicted of growing marijuana for the purposes of trafficking.

"For illegal growers the maximum penalty will be 14 years," a source told
Global television yesterday. "It's going to be tougher, a lot tougher.
There is also going to be an education strategy and an enforcement
strategy, a guideline for police."

That's the tough line Justice Minister Martin Cauchon took to Washington in
a bid to convince the Bush administration that growing, distributing and
trafficking in marijuana will still be a serious crime in Canada. The Bush
administration has warned of border snarls should Canada decriminalize
simple possession of marijuana by making it a ticketable offence, much like
a traffic violation without taking a tougher line of growers and traffickers.

The proposed law is expected to be tabled in the House of Commons tomorrow,
although officials were still working on the finishing touches last night.

Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the federal government has occasionally
exchanged views on security legislation with U.S. counterparts.

"We're modernizing the sentences for marijuana," said Prime Minister Jean
Chretien.

Mr. Cauchon was to brief U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft in Washington
last night.

The Opposition portrayed the Liberals as bending to the U.S. before
Parliament had seen the legislation.

"Why this contempt of Parliament?" asked NDP MP Bill Blaikie.

"We cannot table something that does not exist," Mr. Chretien replied.

Speaker Peter Milliken said he found no breach of parliamentary privilege
in the matter.

Mr. Chretien said Mr. Cauchon would explain Canada's plans to change
marijuana laws, which, he said, will be similar to the laws in some
American states.

"So the minister's going there, he will explain that," Mr. Chretien said.
"It is important to communicate when people ask questions."

Mr. Cauchon denied the new law sent a message the country was tolerant of
drug abuse.

"Not at all. We want to make sure we put in place better penalties that we
will be able to enforce," he said. Mr. Cauchon added that the government
wants "to send a better message, as well, that the use of cannabis is
illegal in Canada."