MARTIN FAVOURS LESS HARSH POT LAW

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

"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," said
Liberal leadership candidate Paul Martin.

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.

He 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," McGuinty 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 organized crime figures
who supply drugs, such as clandestine grow houses operators.

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