FRASER INSTITUTE MELLOW

VANCOUVER -- The federal government should decriminalize marijuana and
tax the revenue, says a report released today by the usually
conservative Fraser Institute. Conservative estimates show the
government stands to reap an estimated $2 billion in potential
revenues annually into its coffers, said Steve Easton, a professor of
economics at Simon Fraser University and senior fellow at the think-tank.

It's not a question of whether Canadians approve or disapprove of
marijuana use, he suggested.

'It's like Prohibition'

"I think it's like Prohibition in the U.S. in that period, in the
sense we've tried to suppress (marijuana use)," said Easton.

"We've not been successful in doing so and all we do is create an
industry that really gives organized crime a chance to get some revenue."

Prime Minister Paul Martin said last week the Liberals are committed,
if re-elected, to reintroducing legislation to hand out fines -- not
criminal sentences -- to people caught with 15 grams of pot or less.