GRIT MP BLASTS POT DECRIMINALIZATION

OTTAWA -- A Toronto-area Liberal MP vows to fight a move by the Chretien
government to decriminalize possession of small amounts of pot for personal
use.

Dan McTeague calls it a "colossal" mistake that has not been thought
through by the justice minister or the three Grit leadership candidates who
are supporting it.

"In their rush to be trendy, the supporters of this are ignoring serious
economic and social consequences," said the Pickering-Ajax-Uxbridge MP.

McTeague said the United States would have every right to crack down at
border crossings, adding U.S. Customs figures show seizures of pot have
been going up over the past four years.

McTeague said the decision to decriminalize also sends the wrong message
and is an affront to organizations trying get people off drug abuse.

He said the argument that decriminalization would spare young people a
criminal record is bogus, noting anyone can apply for a pardon after five years.