LIBERALS RETABLE POT BILL

Some Decriminalization, Fines

OTTAWA -- Adding a dash of cash to sweeten the pot, the Liberal
government has retabled its much-maligned marijuana bill. Justice
Minister Irwin Cotler reintroduced the cannabis reform package
yesterday, twinning it with measures to track drug-impaired drivers.
And to show the feds are serious about preventing stoners from getting
behind the wheel, Cotler announced $6.9 million for law
enforcement.

"The whole idea here is to make what is now voluntary, mandatory," he
said.

"That is the purpose of the legislation, which is to save lives ...
where deaths are caused by drug-impaired driving."

Drug-impaired driving is already a crime, but the new bill will give
police more power, tools and training to nab suspects. Cotler is
confident roadside tests for drug impairment will pass charter challenges.

The bill decriminalizes pot possession for 15 grams or less, imposing
fines instead of criminal records.

Roundly criticized as being too soft by the Tories and too harsh by
the NDP, the proposed bill will be sent back to the Commons justice
committee for study.

ORGANIZED CRIME

A key concern for Conservative justice critic Vic Toews is that the
bill encourages organized crime by reducing penalties and fuelling
demand. He also raised concerns about the lack of police resources to
patrol for high drivers, and worried about the economic impact of
drawing the ire of the U.S.

"How does this government guarantee us that there won't be retaliatory
action by the Americans?" he asked. "So much of our trade depends on
that back-and-forth exchange and I'm very concerned that they're going
ahead on this without taking into account the real impact this will
have on trade."

NDP MP Libby Davies said her party will push for amnesty for those
already carrying a criminal record for possessing pot.

Davies worries the cash penalty system could backfire and lead to more
intense trailing of recreational tokers. "With the ticketing system,
we may wind up with wider enforcement than we have now," she said.