CHRETIEN MELLOWS ON POT RHETORIC

OTTAWA -- Jean Chretien retreated Wednesday from the government's plans to
decriminalize marijuana by declaring that no final decision has been made.

The prime minister's position contradicts that of Justice Minister Martin
Cauchon, who signalled last week that he intended to introduce legislation
in the first four months of next year to wipe marijuana possession off the
criminal record books.

Chretien, stressing that he has never tried pot, said the debate over
decriminalization is ongoing and that the government will have to make a
decision "one day."

The prime minister's spokesperson, Jim Munson, acknowledged that Cauchon
"has made his intentions known," but cautioned that the justice minister's
plans are not final.

"There will be a very vigorous debate," said Munson, who did not elaborate.

Chretien made his comments in a year-end interview with Global TV in which
he went out of his way to say that he had never tried pot and he does not
know what it is like to be high.

"I don't know what is the feeling," he said.

Cauchon, 40, has confessed to smoking marijuana in his youth and has made
no secret of his belief that people caught with less than 30 grams -- about
25 or 30 cigarettes -- should be fined rather than criminally charged.

He has been considering the prospect for six months and, until Wednesday,
it appeared there was little standing in his way, particularly after a
House of Commons committee recommended decriminalization last week.

Several marijuana enthusiasts predict that the government, which has
promised decriminalization on and off over the last 30 years, will never act.

Cauchon is a strong Chretien loyalist and his boss's position could hamper
attempts at a new marijuana law.

Some provincial justice ministers have questioned why Cauchon has chosen to
tackle the divisive issue and critics have suggested any move to
decriminalize marijuana would create difficulties with the United States
and its tough approach to drugs.

Mike Murphy, a spokesperson for Cauchon, said that the justice minister's
stated intentions do not conflict with Chretien's comments because the pot
plan is still not "a done deal."

Murphy said there would be a lot of debate "in cabinet, in caucus, and in
the public forum" before legislation is introduced.

But Murphy did not step back from Cauchon's suggestions that a new law is
on its way.