U.S. FEARS EFFECTS OF LAX POT LAWS

DEA Predicts Trouble On Both Sides Of Border

Canada would hamper the aggressive U.S. war on drugs by adopting a "lax
policy" of decriminalizing possession of marijuana, says the head of drug
enforcement in the United States.

Asa Hutchinson, director of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration,
predicted more Canadian-grown pot would end up south of the border if
Justice Minister Martin Cauchon decides to relax Canadian law.

"It would probably complicate things somewhat for the U.S.," he said in an
interview Wednesday.

"If you have lax marijuana policies right across the border, where
possession of marijuana is not considered criminal conduct, that invites
U.S. citizens into Canada for marijuana use and that will increase the
likelihood that both U.S. citizens and Canadian citizens will bring back
the Canadian marijuana across the border for distribution and sale."

Hutchinson also fears a shift in policy in Canada or Britain, which
announced last week it will relax pot laws, will rejuvenate a debate on
marijuana decriminalization in the U.S. at a time when the White House is
determined to keep the drug strictly illegal.

"We have great respect for Canada and Britain as well, and if they start
shifting policies with regards to marijuana, it simply increases the
rumblings in this country that we ought to re-examine our policy."

That policy was reinforced last month by the U.S. Court of Appeals, which
upheld that marijuana is a dangerous drug with a high potential for abuse.

The U.S. court said marijuana should remain classified as a Schedule 1
drug, the most restrictive classification under the Controlled Substances Act.

Cauchon said earlier this week that he is considering decriminalizing
marijuana possession by removing it from the Criminal Code and making it an
offence punishable with a fine instead of a criminal record.

Cauchon is awaiting recommendations from Senate and Commons committees and
said he intends to consult with Canadians before making a decision.

Hutchinson cautioned that he was not suggesting a change in Canadian law
would go so far as to threaten Canada-U.S. relations, nor does he plan to
privately voice his opposition to Cauchon.

"If I'm asked whether I support decriminalizing marijuana, the answer is I
do not support that," he said.

"My views on that issue are a reflection of where we should go with U.S.
policy. It's not our job to tell Canada what to do."

There already is a "significant influx" of marijuana into the United
States, Hutchinson said.

Figures were unavailable from both Canadian and U.S. authorities on how
much pot is seized at the border, but there have been estimates in the U.S.
that as much as half of Canada's supply goes south.

Canada is already viewed in the U.S. as being soft on drugs and the federal
government's move to allow pot smoking for medicinal purposes received a
rough ride in the U.S. press.

Hutchinson also rejects legalizing marijuana for medicinal use.

"Thus far, scientific evidence doesn't support marijuana as medicine,
particularly in comparison with the harmful consequences that comes from
smoking marijuana," he said.