ASHCROFT TO GET DETAILS OF CANADA'S POT PLAN

OTTAWA -( REUTERS)- Justice Minister Martin Cauchon will present his
controversial plan to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of
marijuana to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft today.

Cauchon is expected to introduce his marijuana legislation this month
despite warnings from the Bush administration that it could force the United
States to tighten its border with Canada.

U.S. officials had expressed concern about the volume of Canadian marijuana
shipments entering the country, and they are concerned the softer laws would
mean an increase.

Cauchon is expected to stress to Ashcroft that marijuana will remain
illegal, even if no longer criminal, and that Canada will toughen penalties
substantially for marijuana-growing operations, Canadian officials said
Monday.

The legislation is designed to ensure no one gets a criminal record for
having small amounts of the drug. Jail terms would likely be replaced by
fines.

Cauchon says 100,000 of Canada's 30 million people use marijuana on a daily
basis, and the current law is unevenly enforced.

He described the plan briefly to Ashcroft last week in Paris at a meeting of
justice ministers of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations, but
today's meeting will give a fuller explanation.

The Canadian Police Association wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Jean
Chretien last week voicing concern about the plan. Foremost among the
concerns was the lack of legislation and tools to deal with drivers who are
impaired by drugs.