OTTAWA STAYS PEI POT CHARGES

Charlottetown -- The federal Justice Department says it will stay all
charges of marijuana possession on Prince Edward Island involving less than
30 grams until the law is clarified.

Recently, a judge in Summerside, PEI, stayed a marijuana charge on grounds
that rulings in Ontario have raised doubts about federal marijuana laws.

The Crown is appealing that ruling on the Island, but a date has not been set.

In the meantime, prosecutors have begun staying other charges. One case
occurred in Charlottetown on Monday. Three others were stayed last week in
Summerside.

Justice officials insist that doesn't mean the charges are being dropped.
Staying a charge still allows them to reactivate it within a year,
depending on what happens with the appeal.