KLEIN, CLARK SOFTEN STANCE ON POT LAWS

But Premier Says Marijuana Left A Bad Taste In His Mouth

EDMONTON - Premier Ralph Klein on Tuesday said he's willing to
discuss softening laws against marijuana.

Meanwhile, Conservative Party Leader Joe Clark went a step further,
calling on the federal government Tuesday to decriminalize the drug,
making marijuana possession a civil offence, like a traffic
violation, instead of a criminal one.

"Personally, I make a distinction between legalization and
decriminalization," Clark said. "What interests me is
decriminalization because I don't want to have a young person carry
forever the burden of a conviction for a criminal offence," which
could, for example, eliminate some career options.

Like Klein, Clark made it clear his position is a personal one. It
is not shared by other MPs in his party, he said.

Klein's and Clark's comments come in the wake of federal Justice
Minister Anne McLellan's declaration last week that she's open to a
debate on whether marijuana should be decriminalized or legalized. A
day earlier, the House of Commons passed a unanimous motion to create
a committee to examine non-medical drug use, which could recommend
changes to laws making possession of marijuana a criminal offence.

A national survey by University of Lethbridge sociologist Reg Bibby
shows 47 per cent of Canadians favour the drug's legalization,
compared to 30 per cent in the mid-1970's and mid-1990s.

Klein said if the issue is on the agenda for a first ministers'
conference, "I have no qualms about discussing it. I just don't have
an opinion on it right now, other than my own personal opinion from
way back."

Klein recalled that experimenting with pot smoking in his younger
days left a bad taste in his mouth.

"I don't like the stuff because it made me paranoid. And I've always
said, I don't need to be any more paranoid than I already am."

Klein said he thinks "a case can be made" for legalized pot use for
medicinal purposes, as is allowed in some circumstances.

"Recreational use, I don't know," he added. "I haven't got my head
around it right now."

Alberta Justice Minister Dave Hancock said he's not opposed to
marijuana laws being reviewed.