MINISTER: GET THE DOPE ON EDMONTON

OTTAWA -- Federal Justice Minister Anne McLellan says she wants to get all
the dope on why her hometown Edmonton is going to pot as a major exporter
of marijuana.

McLellan said she plans to call a meeting with city police during
Parliament's Easter recess in mid-April to find out how her city has become
an exporter of hydroponically grown marijuana to places normally famed for
their exports of the illegal weed -- B.C., the U.S., and Mexico. She will
also ask federal Solicitor General Andy Scott to sit in on the meeting.

Whatever the problem turns out to be, however, tougher anti-pot legislation
is not in the cards and other solutions will have to be found, McLellan
said.

"The laws are there and I don't think there is a necessity for tougher
ones, but maybe it's a question of enforcement and resources to enforce the
laws," McLellan said.

The federal government is under some pressure to decriminalize marijuana,
but McLellan said she will take no steps that would worsen the drug problem
in Canada. "The minister of health and I have made it absolutely plain
that we are only considering decriminalization of marijuana for medicinal
use and we and the majority of parliament would have to be satisfied there
are real medicinal reasons to do this."

Edmonton police seized $400,000 worth of marijuana plants, oil, and
hydroponic equipment last Wednesday, and charged five people with
producing, possessing and trafficking.