LIBERALS FAST-TRACK POT DECRIMINALIZATION BILL

OTTAWA (CP) - The Liberal government, brushing aside objections by some of
its own backbenchers, is moving to speed up passage of controversial
legislation to decriminalize simple possession of marijuana.

House leader Don Boudria served notice Wednesday that he intends to refer
the bill for early committee study, after just three hours of debate in the
full Commons.

The official referral will come Thursday. It will put the bill in the hands
of an all-party special committee that is already on record - in a report
delivered last year - as favouring decriminalization in principle.

''To refer it back to that committee, to me, is just normal,'' said Justice
Minister Martin Cauchon. ''Because they have the expertise, they're going
to be able to deal with it in the fastest way.''

Derek Lee, a Toronto-area MP and key member of the committee, noted it
heard extensive evidence last year before bringing in a report that urged
the government to eliminate jail time for possession of small amounts of pot.

Lee suggested the second round of hearings, on the detailed provisions of
the bill, will be short and sweet. ''We'd want to hear from law enforcement
people, there might be a couple of (other) envelopes where we'd like to
hear something. But generally I think we've heard most of what we want to
hear already.''

Fellow Liberal Dan McTeague was outraged, calling the government's move to
speed up the legislative process ''reckless and irresponsible.''

The committee chosen by Cauchon and Boudria is ''stacked by the very people
who have been advocates for decriminalization for some time,'' said McTeague.

''It's hardly a committee that's going to be objective.''

McTeague, one of the most outspoken opponents of the bill since it was
brought in by Cauchon last spring, branded it ''ineffective and lousy
legislation'' that needs extensive revision.

Boudria, however, suggested it could conceivably be law before the fall
session of Parliament is over. ''There's certainly enough time to pass it
before Christmas,'' he said. ''But of course that would depend largely on
how many witnesses the committee decides to hear and so on.''

Other MPs who spoke privately were skeptical of Boudria's claim. One
Liberal backbencher said few believe the House will continue to sit after
Nov. 15, the date the party will anoint former finance minister Paul Martin
as the successor to Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

Martin has said he favours decriminalization in principle, but some of his
backbench supporters believe he may back away from the Cauchon bill as
internal dissent grows.

The bill sponsored by Cauchon would not strictly legalize pot possession.
But it would make possession of up to 15 grams - enough for about 15 or 20
joints - a minor offence punishable by a range of fines.