NEW DRUG LAWS WON'T SLOW BORDER TRAFFIC

U.S. Vows 'Wait And See' Approach To Decriminalized Marijuana

U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci suggested yesterday that Canada's plan to
decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana may not lead to
border friction if the change includes tough penalties for criminal
trafficking and cultivation.

Contrary to recent warnings by other U.S. officials, including U.S. drug
czar John Walters, Mr. Cellucci said people will have to "wait and see"
whether such a law would lead to congestion and other problems at the
Canada-U.S. border.

Mr. Cellucci noted several U.S. states have decriminalized the possession
of small amounts of cannabis, and said much will depend on whether the drug
will appear easier to get if decriminalized in Canada.

"This is a decision for Canada to make, just as it was a decision for
jurisdictions in the United States to make," Mr. Cellucci told reporters at
a ceremony marking a new agreement on preclearance procedures for U.S.
customs at airports in Canada.

"We'll have to wait and see what (the law) is to know whether it will have
any impact on the border," the ambassador added.

Mr. Cellucci laughingly brushed off attempts by journalists to draw him
into commenting on the Liberal leadership race.

Asked if he welcomed former finance minister Paul Martin's support for more
defence spending and Canadian participation in a continental missile
defence system, Mr. Cellucci replied with a broad smile: "We're not going
to get into the political wars here in Canada, but we thought that was a
positive statement from Mr. Martin, obviously."

He also had praise for John Manley's good working relationship with U.S.
Homeland Secretary Tom Ridge.

Top U.S. officials have predicted border tie-ups if Canada eases laws on
marijuana. Although some U.S. states have made possession a misdemeanour,
it remains a federal offence to transport the drug across the U.S. border.

Mr. Cellucci, however, said no one can predict what will happen.

"I think a lot depends, and no one has seen the proposal yet, does it
actually make it more difficult to get marijuana?" he added. "Is the
enforcement of the civil penalty going to be a strong one? Are the criminal
penalties for those who grow marijuana, are they going to be strengthened?"

The ambassador went on to say, "I think it comes down to perception, if the
perception is that it might be more easy to get marijuana here, then that
could lead to some pressure on the border because U.S. customs and
immigration officers are law enforcement officers and they would have their
antennae up as people are travelling from Canada into the United States."

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, arguing thousands of young Canadians
should not be saddled with criminal records for using small amounts of
marijuana, has promised to introduce a bill by June decriminalizing
possession of 30 grams or less of the drug. He has also indicated the
government would launch a new strategy on drugs and toughen enforcement
against growers and traffickers.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other agencies in Washington have
already singled Canada out as a source of marijuana and other drug
shipments to the U.S.

In Canada, judges in three provinces -- Ontario, Nova Scotia and Prince
Edward Island -- have recently tossed out marijuana possession charges
because of Ottawa's plans for a new law. The Justice Department, which is
drafting Mr. Cauchon's bill to decriminalize pot, is also appealing the
provincial court rulings.