MINISTER SAYS GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING DECRIMINALIZING MARIJUANA POSSESSION

OTTAWA - Last week, Britain relaxed its marijuana laws so police there
could focus on harder drugs. Now Canada's justice minister is hinting he's
considering decriminalizing marijuana.

Canadians caught with small amounts of marijuana usually face fines of
about $1,000, or six months in jail and a criminal record.

Martin Cauchon wants to change that. "If you look at the system we have in
place, keeping it criminal is something that is not very efficient."

Cauchon and others say the courts and the police are spending too much time
and money on minor marijuana offences. In 2000, 30,000 Canadians were
accused of possessing marijuana.

Marijuana Party member Mike Curt says Ottawa should go one step further.
"One of the main problems with prohibition right now is that organized
crime has a foothold in the industry, and until we legalize the growth and
sale of marijuana we're not going to see those problems end."

Cauchon has promised to consult widely with Canadians on the issue. That
will include consultation with Canada police forces.

Marijuana "is the first drug kids see in school, not only secondary school,
but elementary school, so there is a possibility for marijuana to be used
as a stepping stone for other harder drugs," said Mike Niebudek,
vice-president of the Canadian Police Association.

But a Senate committee recently reported it could find no strong evidence
that marijuana led to harder drugs. That committee and another from the
House of Commons are scheduled to deliver reports on the issue this fall.

The vice-chair of the Commons committee, Alliance MP Randy White, says
Cauchon should wait to read the reports. "These are details that have to be
worked out in the Commons, not for some obscure little minister trying to
get political hits from the Canadian public, blurting out that he might
decriminalize this."