MARTIN'S MELLOW

Frontrunner In Grit Leadership Race Supports Decriminalization Of Marijuana

OTTAWA -- Decriminalizing possession of small amounts of pot for personal
use has the support of the man most likely to be the next prime minister of
Canada.

"I think the idea of giving a young person a criminal record because they
happened to get caught with a very, very small quantity (five to 30 grams)
once in their life -- I don't think that's what we should be doing,"
Liberal leadership candidate Paul Martin told Sun Media.

But he added: "I would not, under any circumstances, make it legal."

Ontario Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty said police resources are better
used chasing down crooks than focusing on recreational pot users.

McGuinty supports the decriminalization of marijuana, believing simple
possession should carry a fine but not a criminal record.

"Depending on the judge you get, you can be saddled with a criminal record
for life," he said. "I'd hate to think of the number of adults in positions
of responsibility today who, had they been caught experimenting with
marijuana and brought before a judge and received a criminal conviction,
would have been prevented from doing the good work that they're doing now."

McGuinty said he would like to see police go after the organized crime
figures who supply drugs.

Experimented In Youth

All three Ontario political leaders -- McGuinty, Premier Ernie Eves and NDP
Leader Howard Hampton -- have admitted they experimented briefly with pot
in their youth.

NDP House Leader Peter Kormos said it would be difficult to find many
people today who haven't tried it.

"If they weren't puffing it ... they were around people who were," Kormos said.

A Sun-Leger poll found 83% of respondents want lighter laws for pot possession.

Only 14% of respondents believed pot should be illegal in all circumstances.

Kormos said the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes -- such as an
appetite stimulant for cancer and AIDS patients -- has led to a general
relaxing of attitudes.

"There are grannies out there smoking pot as a result of their glaucoma,"
Kormos said.

Mayor Mel Lastman said he wants the laws governing marijuana to remain just
as they are now.

When asked why it would be wrong to loosen Canada's weed laws, Lastman
responded: "I'd hate to see these people driving our vehicles, our trucks
and cars on the road -- stuff like that."

Councillor Olivia Chow, who supports legalizing marijuana, countered the
public is way ahead of the federal government when it comes to Canada's pot
laws.

"I think the government should really listen to the people," Chow said.