POT PLAN HAS CRITICS FUMING

Canada's Planned Decriminalisation Of Marijuana Is Opposed By The US And
Some Domestic Critics, But Has Firm Public Support, Writes Anne McIlroy

Monday June 2, 2003

Canadians caught with small amounts of marijuana will get fines similar to
those handed out for speeding tickets under controversial proposed
legislation. They won't go to jail, and they won't get a criminal record,
which can make it hard to get a job or travel to the US. The maximum
sentence under the current law is six months in prison, and Prime Minister
Jean Chretien is determined to implement a less harsh approach before he
retires next year.

Under the proposed Cannabis Reform Bill, anyone caught with 15 grams or
less of cannabis - enough to roll 15 to 30 joints - would get a ticket and
a fine of about UKP67. Anyone who has already been convicted will be able
to apply for a pardon.

Although it decriminalizes the possession of small amounts of marijuana,
the new bill will also crack down on people who actually grow pot, even a
few plants. The maximum sentence for growing cannabis will double under the
bill from seven to 14 years.

The get-tough-on-growers provisions appear to be an attempt to appease the
US administration, which has bluntly expressed its opposition to
liberalizing the drug law.

But the Americans are not happy about the changes. Last week, John Walters,
the White House director of drug-control policy, warned that policing the
flow of pot from Canada could dramatically slow down traffic at the border.

He said that in Canada, smoking pot would soon be seen as akin to
jaywalking, and the Canadians could pay a heavy price - in terms of lost
trade - for going soft on drugs.

"We'll respond to the threat," he told a US cable news show. "What we have
to do is protect Americans and right now, this is out of control."

The bill has also met with criticism in Canada, from police forces, federal
opposition parties and even many members of Mr Chretien's Liberal caucus.
The bill contains smaller fines for young people than for adults. Critics
fear it sends teenagers the wrong message about drugs.

Another worry is that it will make it harder for officers to charge people
who get behind the wheel after smoking pot.

"I hope the legislation ... will not encourage marijuana users to toke and
drive," Liberal MP Joe Fontana said.

In defending the legislation, Justice Minister Martin Cauchon stressed that
Canada is not making pot-smoking legal.

"We are not legalizing marijuana and we have no plans to do so," he said at
a press conference.

The plan to lighten up on pot smokers is not characteristic of Mr Chretien,
who is 69 and has never smoked the stuff. He was known for his caution
during his three terms in power, but now that he is leaving, he is
determined to push through a number of controversial bills, including one
that would severely limit corporate donations to political parties,
including his own.

But many members of his caucus are staunch supporters of former Finance
Minister Paul Martin, the front-runner in the bid to replace Mr Chretien,
both as Liberal leader and prime minister. Mr Chretien and Mr Martin were
barely on speaking terms when the ambitious heir apparent was in cabinet.
Now that he's left, his supporters are doing their best to thwart the prime
minister during his remaining days in power.

They could hold up the pot bill in the Commons until after the prime
minister retires. It is uncertain that Mr Martin would take up the cause,
especially if he is trying to rebuild the strained relations between Canada
and the United States over Mr Chretien's decision not to take part in the
war to oust Saddam Hussein from Iraq.

Canadian public opinion, however, is solidly behind the changes. It remains
to be seen if decriminalizing pot will be part of Mr Chretien's legacy, or
if the plan will go up in smoke.