CAUCHON DEFENDS POT LAWS

OTTAWA -- Canada isn't going soft on recreational use of pot by
decriminalizing possession of small amounts of weed, Justice Minister
Martin Cauchon said yesterday.

Cauchon went to Washington yesterday to meet with his U.S. counterpart,
Attorney General John Ashcroft, to present Canada's new plan to revamp its
pot laws -- a move that drew criticism from the Opposition because MPs
haven't seen it.

Cauchon said he was going to Washington to inform Ashcroft about the "broad
principles of the policy."

It appears that the government is backing off its original plan to
decriminalize possession of 30 grams of pot. Cauchon said yesterday the new
bill will now target either 10 or 15 grams.

Under the new law, it will no longer be a criminal offence to possess small
amounts of pot.

Instead, those who are caught with a small stash of pot will face a fine
and not a criminal record.