CANADA PONDERS NEW POT LAW

Proposal Would Lessen Penalties, Establish Anti-Drug Campaign

TORONTO - Canada proposed a new marijuana law Tuesday that would eliminate
a criminal record for possession of small amounts while spending millions
to spread an anti-pot message.

U.S. officials have warned the move could lead to tighter border security
to prevent more Canadian-grown marijuana from entering the country.

Under the measure introduced in Parliament, getting caught with 15 grams -
about half an ounce - or less of marijuana would bring a citation akin to a
traffic ticket, not a criminal record.

While possession of marijuana would remain illegal, the bill is intended to
prevent young people from getting saddled with a lifelong criminal record,

Those younger than 18 could face fines of up to $182 for minor possession,
while adults could be fined the equivalent of $292.

At the same time, the maximum sentence for illegal growers would be
increased to 14 years in prison from the current seven, while trafficking
would remain punishable by up to life in prison.

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon said the law includes an education,
research and treatment program aimed at persuading young people against
drug use. The government intends to spend $179 million on the program.

"The bottom line of this proposal is to create the most effective way to
deal with the drug problem through a number of ways," Cauchon said.

Two Parliament committees have recommended easing Canadian marijuana laws,
and Prime Minister Jean Chretien made the proposal a priority of his last
year in office. He has said he will step down in February 2004 after more
than 10 years as head of government.

Canada's Supreme Court is considering a constitutional challenge to laws
that make it illegal to possess pot, and Ontario courts have declared the
federal law against possession to be invalid because of legal questions.

Liberalizing laws will boost drug use and bring more pot into the United
States, says John Walters, director of the U.S. Office of National Drug
Control Policy.

Canada is already a major source of marijuana for the United States, with
an estimated $2.5 billion worth smuggled in each year, Walters says.

Cauchon traveled to Washington earlier this month to discuss the Canadian
proposal with Attorney General John Ashcroft.

The issue joins a growing list of differences between the North American
neighbors that share the world's largest trade partnership, worth more than
$1 billion a day.

Despite their military ties and common democratic values, Canada has
traditionally adopted more liberal social policies, in part to distinguish
itself from its neighbor. Examples include diplomatic ties with Cuba, a ban
on capital punishment and more lenient immigration policies.

Most recently, Canada refused to join the U.S.-led coalition fighting in
Iraq, saying it only would participate under U.N. auspices.

Eleven U.S. states, including Colorado, have taken some kind of step toward
permitting the medicinal use of marijuana. The U.S. Supreme Court, however,
has ruled there is no exception in federal law for people to use marijuana,
so even those with tolerant state laws could face arrest if they do.