B. C. LIBERAL MP TRIES AGAIN TO DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA

(CNS) A Liberal MP tabled a bill Thursday in the House of Commons
that, if passed, would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana--his
third attempt to do so in seven years.

Keith Martin, the representative for the Victoria-area riding of
Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca, tried unsuccessfully in 2002 and'07 to pass
private member's bills that would amend the Contraventions Act and
the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

If passed, the motion would decriminalize possession of up to 30
grams of cannabis or two marijuana plants.

"The war on drugs has been a complete failure,"he said as he rose to
present the motion. "It has not reduced the crime rate. It has not
reduced drug use. Nor has it saved lives or money. The status quo
only benefits the organized crime gangs and even the insurgents in
faraway Afghanistan."

Decriminalization would mean possession of the substance would still
be illegal, but users would be fined instead of facing criminal consequences.

Martin has said that by not criminalizing people who grow their own
marijuana, the need for dealers and other ties to criminal
organizations would be reduced.

Martin, a physician, introduced the bill amid growing gang violence
tied to the drug trade in the Vancouver area.