SOFTENING POT LAWS WILL IRK U.S.: OPPOSITION

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

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

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

Harper 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.

The 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 would not cut crime.

"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
told CBC television from Washington.

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

"The message we want to send is a much better and stronger message to the
fact that marijuana is illegal in Canada," he said. "It's the same in the
U.S., the same here."

A CANOE/CNEWS online poll of more than 5,000 readers yesterday found 69% in
favour of decriminalization compared with 27% who were opposed.