CRITICS: NEW POT LAW WILL BUG U.S.

OTTAWA -- Softening pot laws will be one more "irritant" to relations with
the U.S., opposition members charge.

Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper yesterday urged Liberals to postpone
decriminalizing pot, saying time is needed to heal wounds from Canada's
stand on Iraq and a series of anti-American comments.

"The Americans view the possession of 30 grams as potential trafficking," he
said.

This week, Prime Minister Jean Chretien announced legislation to
decriminalize possession of up to 30 grams of marijuana will be tabled
before the summer recess.

SMALLER AMOUNT

The Alliance supports decriminalization, but only for up to five grams.

John Walters, director of the White House office of National Drug Control
Policy, said decriminalization makes little sense.

"When you make the penalties minimal you get more drug use, you get more
drug addiction, you get more drug production, you get more drug crime," he
said.

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon tried to allay concerns by stressing that
decriminalization is part of a policy that will include ramped-up prevention
tactics and tough enforcement measures.

Tory MP Peter MacKay said he's worried easing pot laws will create more
problems at the border and sour relations with the U.S.