GOV'T REINTRODUCES POT DECRIMINALIZATION BILL

The federal government has reintroduced a bill to decriminalize
possession of small amounts of marijuana.

It means persons caught with 15 grams of marijuana or less will face a
fine rather than a criminal charge.

"Cannabis use is harmful and it will remain illegal in Canada. What
would change is the approach to enforcement," said Justice Minister
Irwin Cotler in a news release issued Monday. "We are proposing a more
consistent application of our cannabis possession laws."

Previous legislation died when Parliament was dissolved for the June
federal election. It had previously died during the changeover from
former prime minister Jean Chretien to Prime Minister Paul Martin.

Former justice minister Martin Cauchon, who has left politics, was a
champion of the bill.

Martin has spoken in favour of the change, although he had talked in
December about possibly lowering the possession limit from 15 grams.

While the U.S. might not like the decriminalization of simple
possession, Martin said: "Canada will make its own decisions based on
our values."

In a parallel move, the government also introduced legislation that
will target drug-impaired driving and promised new laws tougher
penalties for those commercially cultivating marijuana.

On cultivation, Cotler said: "New criminal offences and tough
sentences are needed to combat the increasing problem of marijuana
grow-ops, which pose unacceptable risks to public safety."

He explained the driving related changes this way: "Currently,
suspected drivers can volunteer to participate in testing. This
legislation will allow the police to require these tests in order to
apprehend those suspected of drug-impaired driving."

The feds also committed $6.9 million to help police investigate
drug-impaired driving cases, primarily by training officers to
recognize the drug-impaired.

It isn't known when these proposed legal changes will become
law.