COURT UPHOLDS LAWS AGAINST POSSESSING POT

TORONTO -- Canada's Supreme Court upheld the country's laws against
marijuana possession on Tuesday, even as Prime Minister Paul Martin
presses to eliminate jail sentences for people caught with small
amounts of the drug.

In a 6-3 decision, the justices ruled that possession of marijuana
would remain a criminal offense for now. In a separate, unanimous
decision, it maintained trafficking of the drug was illegal.

The ruling does not preclude Martin from going ahead with a proposed
bill that would soften penalities. President Bush has expressed
concerns over the bill, fearing it could encourage drug smuggling
along the border.