WHITE SLAMS BILL TO DECRIMINALIZE POT POSSESSION

Abbotsford MP Randy White has slammed a new federal government bill to
decriminalize possession of "small amounts" of marijuana but admits he does
not have a solution to the contentious issue.

White has a number of concerns relating to proposed amendments to the
Contraventions Act and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act announced by
Canadian attorney general Irwin Cotler on Monday.

In particular, he criticizes a plan to make possession of one to 15 grams
punishable only by a fine of $150 for adults and $100 for youth aged 12 to 18.

He also says the threat of respective $300 and $200 fines for possession of
15 to 30 grams are too light.

White claims 30 grams of marijuana is the equivalent of approximately 60
joints - more than would be required for personal use.

"Nobody carries that amount unless they are selling it," White said.

White pointed to a policy in the Netherlands where up to five grams
warrants a police dismissal, but anything greater leads to a fine or jail time.

Asked for alternatives to the Liberal plan, White said minimum sentences
rather than maximum sentences, which are often not enforced, must be
imposed on pot growers.

White also repeated his calls for a national drug strategy which would
include marijuana, as well as harder drugs like crystal meth and cocaine.

White, however, was unable to provide a clearcut solution to resolve
marijuana issue.

"Do we allow people to smoke small amounts, I don't know. I am willing to
go with the majority here.

"We can't stop it. But the reason I am not prepared to move is that if we
think we will stop organized crime by legalizing it we are kidding
ourselves . . . right now I am not prepared to legalize growing and I am
not prepared to legalize drugs. I do not have a better answer."

Under the bill, people carrying "small amounts" of pot would be issued
tickets by police, similar to parking tickets.

White criticized this proposal, suggesting it would put an increased burden
on police forces. He also said it would be difficult to enforce payment.

Abbotsford marijuana advocate Tim Felger further criticized the bill,
saying he would prefer marijuana to be illegal rather than decriminalized.

"The real question is whether (marijuana) prohibition is making society
more violent. If it is more violent, is this law really going to help it?"
Felger said there were no provisions made in the bill suggesting where
marijuana users could buy their pot, and he said the ticketing system would
put a drain on police resources and create a "police state."

In making his announcement on Monday, Cotler said that under the bill,
maximum sentences for pot growing would double to 14 years.

The Government of Canada also believes that while cannabis use must be
discouraged, possession of small amounts should not result in a criminal
record, Cotler said.

"Cannabis use is harmful and it will remain illegal in Canada. What would
change is the approach to enforcement," the minister added.

Under the new proposals, police officers would offer tickets for the first
three possession offences. For subsequent offences, they could either issue
a ticket or issue a summons to appear in court.

More specific punishments are also being proposed for growers.

As part of the bill, anyone growing one to three plants would be handed a
$500 fine ($250 for youth).

This will be jacked to up to five years in prison for four to 25 plants, 10
years for 26 to 50 plants and up to 14 years for more than 50 plants.