MAYORS VOTE ON POT LAWS

WINNIPEG -- Canada's big city mayors quietly voted Saturday to support the
decriminalization of marijuana.

"Last year we were against the decriminalization of cannabis, this year
we're not," said Toronto city councillor Howard Moscoe.

Moscoe said the vote came as a part of a package of motions that were put
before delegates at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in
Winnipeg early Saturday. There didn't appear to be any reporters at the
conference at the time, he said.

Moscoe said a motion was put forward to affirm the FCM's old policy, which
was against decriminalization. But about 70% of the mayors and delegates at
the conference voted the motion down.

"That means by extension that we support decriminalization," Moscoe said.

Winnipeg Mayor Glen Murray was unavailable for comment on the issue last
night. A spokesman said Murray was not present for the vote.