U.S. DRUG CZAR RIPS CANADA

Assails Backing For Decriminalizing Pot

QUEBEC - Canada should get tough on marijuana instead of decriminalizing
the drug or allowing people to use it for medicinal purposes, U.S. drug
policy chief John Walters said.

"Canada's decision about how it handles this or other issues of regulated
substance is its decision. We respect that," Walters told reporters last
week during a two-day visit for an international meeting of the College on
Problems of Drug Dependence.

But he made it clear the U.S. government disagrees with recent moves in
Canada to liberalize drug policies.

More than 250 Canadians have federal government approval to smoke marijuana
for medical reasons.

Walters said there were better ways to treat patients than smoking marijuana.

A Canadian Senate committee has expressed initial support for
decriminalizing marijuana. A preliminary report released in May said no
scientific evidence exists that marijuana use leads to harder drugs or that
it is more dangerous to society than alcohol.

If Canada follows the committee's initial recommendations, marijuana would
still be illegal but users would not be penalized. That would differ from
the zero-tolerance policy of the U.S. government.