ACTIVISTS MADD OVER MARIJUANA

OTTAWA -- Canadian cops yesterday joined forces with Mothers Against
Drunk Driving to demand the federal government dump its proposed law
to decriminalize possession of small amounts of pot.

"There are too many serious flaws in this bill and the approach
advocated by the government to deal with the plague of marijuana is
altogether heading in the wrong direction," said Tony Cannavino,
president of the Canadian Professional Police Association.

Under the proposed law, those caught with 15 grams of pot will be
issued a ticket, but cannot be charged with a criminal offence.

"It does not meet the needs of police officers ... there is no minimal
sentence whatsoever," said Cannavino before testifying at a special
Commons committee conducting hearings on the proposed bill.

MADD director Andrew Murie said passing the bill is premature because
police don't yet have the tools to combat toking and driving.

"Loosening cannabis possession laws without having drug-impaired
driving measures in place is a recipe for trouble on our roads," Murie
said.

"This legislation will result in more marijuana in the hands of
Canadians, and a rise in the problems related to this drug use,
including a rise in the incidents of impaired driving crashes."

The CPAA represents 54,000 police officers.