OTTAWA'S MARIJUANA PLANS GET PAT FROM UN AGENCY

Montreal -(CP)- The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime endorsed the
federal government's plan to decriminalize marijuana possession, with at
least one reservation.

Antonio Maria Costa, director of the UN agency, told Le Devoir yesterday he
was reassured by Ottawa that Canada will maintain its opposition to the use
of pot.

"The law conforms with three main United Nations agreements on drugs," he
said. Under the proposed law, possession of marijuana would remain illegal.
However someone caught with less than 15 grams would face only a fine. Mr.
Costa said 15 grams is too high a threshold. CP