LAWS FOR POSSESSION OF POT VALID: CAUCHON

OTTAWA -- Justice Minister Martin Cauchon says Canada's pot possession law
is still valid, even though judges in three provinces have ruled to the
contrary.

In two separate rulings, provincial judges in Ontario and P.E.I. have
tossed out simple possession charges, prompting Cauchon's department to
stay all such charges in those provinces.

Another ruling by a Nova Scotia judge Monday will likely lead to a similar
stay while the decision is appealed.

Still, Cauchon insisted: "The existing legislation is the law of the land,
and at Justice Canada we will keep enforcing that legislation."

The Justice minister was recently criticized by a prominent legal expert
for delaying a promised bill to decriminalize simple pot possession,
prompting such rulings.