ONTARIO COLD TO FEDERAL MUSINGS ON DECRIMINALIZING MARIJUANA

TORONTO (CP) - Federal Justice Department plans to decriminalize the
use of marijuana were met with a decidedly frosty response from
Ontario and other provincial governments Tuesday. "I'm flabbergasted
that the federal government has prioritized the decriminalization of
marijuana at this time," said provincial Attorney General David Young.

"It is not a priority for this government."

On Monday, federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon said Ottawa wanted
to move quickly on the issue and could bring in legislation early in the
new year to decriminalize pot use.

Police chiefs across the country have also advocated for
decriminalization but Young, who admitted to "one youthful
indiscretion" when it comes to pot, said officers on the beat aren't in
favour.

"I stand with organized, front-line police officers across this
country who say that this is a serious problem, who say that revenues
from marijuana go to organized crime to finance other criminal
endeavours."

Ottawa should be spending its energies on ending "the weak-kneed"
young-offender legislation and scrapping mandatory parole laws that see
criminals leave jail after two-thirds of their sentences, he said.

Young also noted that justice ministers across the country -
especially in British Columbia - have expressed concerns about the
increased sale of pot and the proliferation of illegal grow houses to
produce it.

Saskatchewan Justice Minister Chris Axworthy said he doubted people
would applaud the initiative but said his government would poll the
province's residents to see if there was any support.

"It certainly appears to be the trend in other countries," Axworthy said.

But Ontario Health Minister Tony Clement jokingly suggested those on
Parliament Hill behind the move might be getting surreptitiously stoned.

"We'll check where that stash of medical marijuana went," Clement quipped.

"As health minister, I'm against people polluting their bodies in
whatever form that takes."

Any bill would depend in part on a Commons committee that studied the use
of non-medical drugs.

The committee apparently plans to recommend on Thursday that
possession of pot should remain illegal but punishment should become a fine
rather than a criminal record.

In an initial report, the committee said this week that heroin addicts
in major cities should have safe-injection sites and needle-exchange
programs to help stop the spread of disease.

"The term is an oxymoron," said Clement, who said treatment, rehab and
education is what's wanted.

"I just can't believe the federal government wants to be on the side
of having heroin addicts attracted to a metropolis like Toronto so they
can shoot 'safely.' "

IV drug use is "bad for your body, it's bad for the individual, it's bad
for society," Clement said.

Manitoba Attorney General Gord Mackintosh said provincial ministers
haven't discussed decriminalization in any depth and he didn't view it as a
priority.

Instead, he said, Ottawa should look at the money "that is being
wasted on the gun registry . . . and divert resources to the
enforcement of an effective drug strategy."

Alberta Justice Minister David Hancock said decriminalizing marijuana
would be "feeding organized crime and the criminals who make a profit from
it."

"Some people say legalizing it or decriminalizing it will take that
away," he said. "We don't see any evidence of that."

In September, a Senate committee said marijuana should be legalized for
use by anybody over the age of 16.

The committee found that moderate use of the drug poses no serious
long-term dangers for adults and could be sold under controlled
circumstances like liquor or in drugstores.

Ontario Premier Ernie Eves, who has admitted to smoking pot in his
salad days, suggested the feds were floating a trial balloon but joked it
was an "interesting revenue producing measure."