JUDGE LEADS THE WAY IN LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

WINDSOR, Ontario -- A Canadian judge has ruled that possession of up to 30
grams of marijuana is legal.

But police say they will continue to enforce long-standing drug laws
despite the judge's ruling.

"Everything will be done the same way we've been doing it -- people will be
arrested if they are caught with marijuana," said Sgt. Kevin Trudell of the
Windsor Police drug investigation unit.

The ruling May 16 in Windsor by Superior Court Justice Steven Rogin was the
most recent development surrounding drug policy in Canada, which is
softening its approach to narcotics, treating abuse more as an illness than
as a law-enforcement issue.

Such moves differ sharply from the zero-tolerance philosophy adopted by the
United States in its war on drugs, and U.S. officials have protested Prime
Minister Jean Chretien's plan to introduce legislation to decriminalize
small amounts of marijuana in Canada.

Rogin ruled May 16 that possessing a little more than an ounce of marijuana
is not against the law in Ontario. Rogin said there is no Canadian criminal
law or penalty that specifically relates to marijuana.

Experts in Canada say Rogin's ruling most likely will be followed by lower
court judges, who usually preside over marijuana possession cases.

Police fear that hundreds of drug cases will now be dismissed. Many had
been delayed as judges awaited Rogin's decision.