FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAY TOUGHEN MARIJUANA BILL

OTTAWA (CP) -- The Liberal government sent cautious signals Thursday that
it may agree to toughen some provisions of its marijuana decriminalization
bill in response to domestic critics.

But Justice Minister Martin Cauchon stood fast against harsher attacks from
south of the border, rejecting claims by John Walters, the U.S. drug czar,
that Canada's approach is out of step with the rest of the hemisphere.

The double-barrelled message came as the Liberals moved to fast-track
legislation that would eliminate the threat of jail terms and criminal
records for anyone in possession of 15 grams or less of pot.

"The government is listening and willing to consider amendments to ensure
we get it right," Cauchon told the House of Commons.

He did not elaborate, but senior sources say the justice minister is
prepared to look at lowering the possession limit to 10 grams, in the hope
of winning over dissident Liberal backbenchers and some provincial justice
ministers who have been critical of the bill.

He is also reportedly willing to consider tougher penalties for repeat
offenders and minimum mandatory prison terms for people involved in
marijuana grow operations.

Cauchon bristled, however, when Walters delivered a speech in Washington
describing Canada as "the once place in the hemisphere where things are
going the wrong way."

The White House director of drug policy has previously suggested
decriminalization of pot could cause problems at the U.S. border, as
American customs officers step up their searches of tourists and commercial
traffic.

"He should maybe look in his own backyard," Cauchon retorted, noting that
more than 10 U.S. states have eliminated criminal penalties for simple
possession of marijuana.

"If it's not correct to move in that direction, maybe he should start
spending some time talking to his own states."

The word of possible amendments to the bill played to mixed reviews among
Liberal backbenchers.

Dan McTeague, a fierce critic of the legislation, welcomed the talk of more
stringent sentences for repeat offenders and minimum terms for growers.

"It would go a long way toward making this bill more plausible," he said.

But he added that he will continue to press for other revisions, including
mandatory urine or blood tests for people suspected of driving under the
influence of pot.