CANADA WARNED NOT TO RELAX DRUG LAWS

'Lax Policy': Fear Canadian Marijuana Would Cross The Border

OTTAWA -- 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 that 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.," Hutchinson
said in an interview.

"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 that any shift in policy in Canada or Britain, which
announced last week it will relax marijuana laws, will rejuvenate a debate
on marijuana decriminalization in the United States at a time when the
administration 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," said
Hutchinson. "It is a distraction from a firm policy on drug use."

The U.S. 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 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.

He is awaiting recommendations from a Senate committee and a House of
Commons committee, and he intends to consult with Canadians before making a
decision.

Hutchinson cautioned that he was not suggesting that 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. A spokesman for the drug enforcement administration
singled out the potent B.C. bud as particularly prevalent in the United States.

Figures were unavailable from both Canadian and American authorities
Wednesday on how much pot is seized at the Canada-U.S. 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 marijuana smoking for medicinal purposes
received a rough ride in the U.S. media.

Hutchinson also rejects legalizing marijuana for medicinal use.