SOFTENED POT LAWS CRITICIZED

OTTAWA -- Softening up Canada's pot laws would be one more "irritant" to
harm relations with the U.S., Opposition members said yesterday.

Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper urged the government to postpone its
plan to decriminalize marijuana, insisting more time is needed to heal the
wounds from Canada's position on the Iraq war and a series of anti-American
comments.

"The Americans view the possession of 30 grams as potential trafficking, and
we share some of those concerns," Harper said.

He was reacting to Prime Minister Jean Chretien's announcement this week
that legislation to decriminalize possession of up to 30 grams of marijuana
will be tabled before the summer recess.

Alliance supports decriminalization, but only for a small stash of up to
five grams.

John Walters, director of the White House office of National Drug Control
Policy, said decriminalization made little sense and wouldn't cut crime.

"When you make the penalties minimal you get more drug use, you get more
drug addiction," he told the CBC.

"It's your decision but I don't think the facts line up in a way that's
consistent or makes much sense . . . ."