POT BILL REVAMP TO TRACK DRIVERS

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.

Imposing Fines

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.

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.