LEGAL JOINTS NOT PRIORITY FOR LIBERALS

OTTAWA -- The federal government is in no hurry to change the law to allow
Canadians to legally fire up a joint.

Justice Minister Anne McLellan said yesterday decriminalizing possession of
small amounts of marijuana is not on the government's legislative radar.

"I am not going to move on it any time soon," McLellan said after giving a
speech to the Canadian Police Association, where she announced $20 million
in new funding over four years to assist victims of crime.

Her comments come a day after delegates to the Liberal convention in Ottawa
overwhelmingly rejected a motion to legalize marijuana use, but passed a
watered-down resolution to decriminalize possession of small amounts.

The police association wants the law to remain unchanged. The Canadian
Association of Police Chiefs says possessing 30 grams or less of marijuana
should not lead to a criminal record.

The chiefs argue dwindling police resources could be better spent on other
crimes.

The president of the CPA, Grant Obst, says decriminalizing tiny amounts
would make it harder for police to nab drug traffickers.

"The possession charges lead to the traffickers, lead to the dealers . . .
That's why possession is an important aspect as far as the investigative
process goes and we're not willing to sacrifice that," Obst said.