OLYMPIC CHAMP REBAGLIATI SUPPORTS EASING MARIJUANA LAWS

TORONTO -- Marijuana has been part of Ross Rebagliati's public image since
he won an Olympic gold medal in snowboarding, so it was no surprise
Wednesday when he supported government plans to decriminalize it.

"It's becoming more socially accepted now than it ever had been in the
past," Rebagliati said of marijuana while promoting Vancouver's bid to host
the 2010 Games. "I think right now it's almost the sign of the times."

Rebagliati was initially stripped of his snowboarding gold medal at the
1998 Nagano Games after testing positive for marijuana. The medal was
reinstated on appeal.

At the time, Rebagliati said he had avoided smoking pot for almost a year
and was a victim of secondhand smoke at a party.

Now, Prime Minister Jean Chretien is promising a bill to make possession of
small amounts of marijuana like a traffic offense, punishable by a fine
with no criminal record.

"It's up to the politicians to decide still," 31-year-old Rebagliati said.
"It's something that comes up. It's not every day that you hear the prime
minister talking about decriminalization."

Rebagliati said his association with smoking pot has caused difficulties.
He requires special permission to travel to the United States, which has a
zero-tolerance drug policy. He also worried he would face problems if he
tried to travel to Europe.

"They use the same computer files and information," he said. "It's a big
problem actually. I can't compete in snowboarding anymore because I can't
get down to the States."