CANADA NOT GOING TO POT WITH NEW MARIJUANA LAW

With Ottawa poised to unveil legislation this week which would
decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, the stage is being
set for a more rational strategy on illicit drug use.

According to news reports, the government will introduce a bill as early as
Thursday that would decriminalize possession of marijuana in amounts below
15 grams -- the equivalent of 20 cigarettes. Individuals found with less
than that amount would be ticketed and fined under the federal
Contraventions Act.

The new approach is controversial and has a few critics.

U.S. officials have already expressed concerns about the idea, complaining
that Canada is already a prime source of marijuana in their country.
Decriminalizing simple possession, Washington argues, is only going
exacerbate the problem.

The Canadian Police Association has also been lobbying the government to
give officers discretionary powers over whether to charge people if they
are found carrying marijuana, particularly if they have a criminal history.

And within Cabinet, there are reportedly ministers who think the government
has gone too far and worry about the new law's effects on U.S.-Canada
relations.

Official reaction in Washington should not guide the federal government.
The Bush administration has blinders on when it comes to marijuana. It
cannot even bring itself to allow the medicinal use of marijuana even
though it has been shown to be useful in treating a number of illnesses.

The public in both countries, however, are not opposed to
decriminalization. Poll after poll shows that the vast majority of people
believe people should not be saddled with criminal records for the mere use
of marijuana.

And there's little doubt, too, that the current approach to illicit drug
use -- strict law enforcement -- has done little to stop the growing use of
marijuana.

Ottawa's new approach is more in keeping with current thinking. Marijuana
use would not be made legal, but nor would it be subject to criminal sanctions.