MANLEY'S 'MISSPENT' YOUTH

Deputy PM Says He 'Regrets' Never Trying Marijuana

OTTAWA -- In a new twist on a weedy old political conundrum, Liberal
leadership hopeful John Manley has turned the once-dreaded pot-smoking
question on its ear.

The finance minister and deputy prime minister, 53, is on record supporting
decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, a measure the
Liberal government has promised to introduce this spring.

But Manley hadn't spoken about any personal experience with the drug.

Manley had to concede in an interview yesterday with The Canadian Press
that the psychedelic '60s passed him by.

"No, never," Manley deadpanned when asked if he'd ever smoked pot.

"I regret that, now, because apparently it's 'de rigueur.' "

The Oxford dictionary definition of de rigueur is something that is
required by custom or etiquette.

The question of pot smoking by politicians has become standard fare in
recent years. Responses have ranged from former U.S. president Bill
Clinton's disingenuous, "Yes, but I didn't inhale," to Heritage Minister
Sheila Copps's rather more enthusiastic "absolutely."

Manley's strange confession came two days after Prime Minister Jean
Chretien cautioned an applauding group of Liberals at a party fund-raiser
in Ottawa not to spark up just yet because the decriminalization measures
haven't been passed.

The U.S. ambassador to Canada warned yesterday that softer Canadian laws on
pot possession for personal use could cause longer lineups at the border.

Paul Cellucci said it's an "internal decision" for Canada to make, but in
an interview with Sun Media he added, "The only concern we have is (if it
will) have an impact on the border because we're trying to make sure that
we take pressure off the border."

The ambassador noted that U.S. Customs and Immigration officers are there
to enforce the law.

"If you're a law enforcement officer and if you think that something is
more readily available here, your antennae are going to be up as people
cross the border and it will probably lead to more inspections," said Cellucci.

"I'm sure this is one that the (U.S.) drug czar Mr. (John) Walters is
concerned about because that's his job," Cellucci said. "His job is to try
to make sure we don't have people using illegal drugs and getting addicted
to drugs."

Walters has said that in the U.S. more kids need treatment for marijuana
dependence than all other illegal drugs combined.

In an interview last year, he said that "60% of the six million (Americans)
we estimate need treatment for drug addiction or abuse are
marijuana-dependent."

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon has told Sun Media he intends to introduce
legislation before Parliament's summer recess, to ease pot laws that have
given thousands of Canadians criminal records for possessing small amounts
for personal use.