ONTARIO NDP CALLS FOR THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

Canadian Press TORONTO - Ontario's New Democratic Party is calling for
the decriminalization of marijuana following a court ruling that could
potentially kill the possession law.

The Ontario Court of Appeal ruled Monday that the current law barring
marijuana possession is unconstitutional because it doesn't take into
account people who smoke pot for medicinal purposes.

The court gave the federal government 12 months to make changes or the
law will cease to exist.

Howard Hampton, the Ontario NDP leader, said too many people are being
turned into criminals for "smoking a little pot."

Mr. Hampton, a self-described non-smoker, says it's time for the
federal government to decriminalize simple possession of marijuana.

He says it would free up police to fight real crime.

The federal Health ministry says it likely won't act on the ruling
right away, but most observers don't expect the government to allow
the marijuana law to lapse, similar to the way the old abortion law
died.