LOOSEN POT LAWS, MOST IN B.C. SAY IN NEW POLL

British Columbians lead the nation in supporting relaxed laws for
possession of marijuana, and nearly 56 per cent of the B.C. population
favours decriminalizing pot.

Polling experts credited B.C.'s "hippie lifestyle" with the higher level of
support in this province.

Nationwide, 50 per cent of Canadians support the decriminalization of
marijuana, according to a poll conducted for Maclean's magazine, Global TV
and The Province.

Only 38 per cent of those polled in B.C. oppose the liberalization of pot
laws, compared with 47 per cent across Canada.

Also, more men than women support decriminalization, the poll found.

Support for relaxing the law is highest in Canada among people who report
household incomes of $100,000 or more.

While more B.C. residents support decriminalization, support in other
provinces is not far behind: 51 per cent of Ontario residents favoured
decriminalization, compared with 48 per cent of Albertans and Quebecers.

Support was lowest in Saskatchewan and Atlantic Canada, at 46 per cent.

David Plaxton of Strategic Counsel pollsters, the Toronto firm that
conducted the poll, suspects British Columbians are most likely to favour
revamped marijuana laws because of the "hippie culture" on the West Coast.

Police in B.C. and in other parts of Canada have come out against any move
to decriminalize the use of pot, saying the industry is controlled by
organized crime.

The survey of 1,400 adult Canadians revealed that 50 per cent either
strongly or somewhat support decriminalization, while 47 per cent are
somewhat or strongly opposed.

The results are considered accurate to within 3.1 percentage points, 19
times out of 20.

The survey showed that 53 per cent of Canadians under 40 support looser
laws, while 48 per cent of people aged 40 and older want to see marijuana
decriminalized.

The results come as Justice Minister Martin Cauchon says he is going to
remove simple pot possession from the Criminal Code, but his boss, Prime
Minister Jean Chretien, hasn't shown the same conviction in the matter.

The U.S. has also warned against decriminalization, saying Canada should
get over its "reefer madness" if it doesn't want to face the wrath of its
largest trading partner.