POT PLAN FIRES UP LIBERALS

MPs Fear Bill Will Encourage People To Toke And Drive

OTTAWA -- Canada's new pot bill came under continued attack yesterday, with
some backbench Liberal MPs questioning their own government's priorities.

A handful of frustrated Liberals lashed out against a plan to decriminalize
small amounts of marijuana -- a move they say sends mixed messages to youth
and fails to address the dangers of drug-impaired drivers.

A fuming Scarborough Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis suggested the marijuana
bill is one more signal that Prime Minister Jean Chretien should vacate his
post early -- and "the sooner the better."

"After 10 years of being in power, he's forgotten the dynamics of
democracy, the dynamics of listening to the caucus," he said.

In the House of Commons, Justice Minister Martin Cauchon was grilled again
by opposition members as well as a colleague in his own Liberal caucus. His
plan to decriminalize up to 15 grams of weed would result in fines of $150
for adults and $100 for youth.

London MP Joe Fontana called drug-impaired driving a "serious concern" and
raised concerns the bill would encourage marijuana users to toke and drive.

Cauchon stressed that drug-impaired driving is already a serious criminal
offence, but admitted there is no valid test to measure impairment.

"Work-in-progress" tests are underway in B.C. and will be speeded up to
result in amendments to the Criminal Code, he said.

Tests on blood and physical behaviour will help enforce the law, but
Cauchon couldn't say if they would be in place by the time legislation is
passed. "I don't want to commit myself to a time frame," he said.