TOP COP AGREES WITH PLAN TO EASE POT LAWS

OTTAWA -- Canada's top cop is endorsing federal legislation expected as
early as tomorrow to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana for personal use.

RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli emphasized, however, that any
proposed legislation to ease the country's pot laws must be accompanied by
"a comprehensive national drug strategy."

"What we are talking about here is decriminalizing very small amounts if
that's what's in the legislation. We still believe we need the discretion
as police officers, in rare cases, to lay criminal charges against
possessors of very small amounts.

"But ... we believe that we don't want to make criminals out of persons who
have very small amounts of marijuana for their own possession," said
Zaccardelli in an interview on CTV's Question Period.

The Chretien government had originally planned to table the legislation in
the Commons earlier this month but put it on hold just hours after Justice
Minister Martin Cauchon met with his U.S. counterpart in Washington.

U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci warned earlier that much stricter American
drug laws could result in delays for Canadians crossing the border.

Commissioner Zaccardelli acknowledged U.S. concerns and said he has had
discussions with American law enforcement officials on the matter.

"This is an issue with them. We have expressed our views to them. But, if
we have a comprehensive package, it will not harm the work that we do and
the relationship with the Americans, in my view."