TOUGH POT PENALTIES MIGHT PREVENT MORE BORDER SCRUTINY

Younger people trying to enter the United States will become targets
of increased surveillance unless Canada can dispel the perception that
it is slackening penalties for pot use, U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci
said.

That perception might be eradicated if Canada's pending marijuana
legislation included criminal penalties for more than one conviction,
for possession near schools or possession while operating a vehicle,
Cellucci said.

"We understand that this is a public policy decision for Canada to
make just like (some U.S.) states have made," he told The Canadian
Press in an interview.

"We're just saying that right now the perception is that it's going to
be a lot easier to get marijuana in Canada and that's going to put
pressure on the border."

That strain won't slow border traffic and trade to a crawl, but it
will have an impact on border crossings and on those crossing into the
United States. Younger people travelling south will be prime targets
of heightened surveillance, Cellucci said.

"If the perception is that it's easier to get marijuana in Canada,
that's going to put pressure on the border as particularly young
people drive into the United States, whether they're U.S. citizens or
Canadian citizens. Customs and Immigration officers at the border are
law enforcement officers. Their antenna will be up looking for those
trying to bring these drugs into the United States."

Prime Minister Paul Martin has said that his government will
re-introduce legislation drafted by his predecessor, Jean Chretien,
that decriminalizes penalties for possession of up to 15 grams of
marijuana. What remains unclear is whether the bill will be brought
back in its original form or whether it will be amended to toughen its
penalties provisions.

The Bush administration has made it clear to Canada that it regards
the proposed legislation as a measure that will increase marijuana
supply in the United States and increase drug trafficking across the
border.

The legislation mandates a maximum fine of $400 for adults and $250
for youth for possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana -- about 20
cigarettes depending on how thickly they are rolled. Maximum sentences
for illicit growers would increase and the government would spend
about $150 million on an educational campaign to convince young people
not to use drugs. Fines for possession would increase for intoxicated
drivers.

But there are currently no provisions to make repeat offenders,
drivers and those possessing the drug near schools criminally
responsible. That's affecting the perception of the proposed bill
among Bush administration officials, Cellucci said.

"I think several things could be done to toughen the bill. I think
that if the effort is made to change this perception."