PROVINCE MAY RELAX DRUG STANCE

EDMONTON -- Alberta may mellow in its opposition to marijuana
decriminalization -- but only if the feds come down from their high first.

"The suggestion is the amount be lowered to five grams from 15," Attorney
General David Hancock told The Sun about a Quebec proposal that Alberta may
support.

Currently, the federal government is proposing that possession of up to 15
grams of marijuana be a non-criminal offence.

While Alberta remains opposed to any decriminalization, Hancock said the
province could accept a lower limit if it's going to lose the battle anyway.

That proposal came out of a meeting of provincial justice ministers held
this past week, in which Quebec suggested the compromise.

The provinces would also demand a very stiff fine for possession of less
than five grams, Hancock told The Sun.

Provinces could also meet Ottawa halfway on the higher proposed limit by
agreeing that not all possession charges over five grams would
automatically land someone in court.

"The discretion to charge between five grams and 30 grams would be left
with the attorney general."

Hancock said Alberta remains convinced that pot possession should be a
criminal offence.

However, pot advocate Marc Emery said his followers oppose any compromise.

"There is nothing wrong with pot. Pot should not be illegal and people
should never be punished," said Emery, president of the British Columbia
Marijuana Party.