MARTIN EYEING POT LAW

Prime Minister Paul Martin says he'll press ahead with legislation,
first proposed under Jean Chretien, to eliminate criminal penalties
for possession of small amounts of marijuana.

But he hinted he'd like to see the legislation toughened and invited a
parliamentary committee to consider amendments on several points,
including lowering the limit for non-criminal possession from the
current proposal of 15 grams.

Martin said Thursday that he sees a health risk in pot use and
observed that "any doctor will tell you it's far from the best thing
for you."

However, he insisted that it achieves "absolutely nothing to give a
criminal record to young people caught with minimal amounts."

The bill brought in under Chretien, which died on the House of Commons
order paper last month, will be reintroduced when MPs return to work
in the new year, Martin said.

He suggested some changes are in the works: "I think that one's got to
take a look at the fines. I think that you have to take a look the
quantities, and I think that there has to be a larger effort against
the grow-ops and against those who distribute."

The Supreme Court of Canada is set to rule next week on whether the
current marijuana law violates the Charter of Rights by mandating
criminal penalties, including potential jail time, for simple possession.

Martin's comments signalled that -- even if the high court upholds the
constitutionality of the present regime -- he will move to reform it
anyway.

The bill tabled last spring by then-justice minister Martin Cauchon
did not propose outright legalization of marijuana. But it made simple
possession a minor offence, punishable by a range of fines, somewhat
like traffic violations.

Cauchon denied the government was going soft on drugs, pointing out
that the legislation maintained or increased the already stiff jail
terms for illicit growers and traffickers.

Nevertheless, the bill provoked the ire of hardliners in the
administration of U.S. President George W. Bush.

John Walters, the White house director of drug policy, complained
Canada was out of step with the rest of the western hemisphere.

Paul Cellucci, the U.S. ambassador to Ottawa, warned of long lineups
at border points as American customs officers scrutinize visitors from
the north.

There was also opposition to the bill from backbench Liberal MPs, many
of them well-known supporters of Martin's bid for the party
leadership.