FEDS STUDY TICKETING POT USERS

OTTAWA (CP) -- The federal government is looking at issuing tickets to
marijuana users as a way of avoiding saddling young people with criminal
records.

"Kids are ending up with a criminal conviction," Justice Minister Martin
Cauchon said in a Toronto speech.

"This can have a devastating impact on their lives -- from the types of
jobs they can get, to travelling or going to university in other countries."

Cauchon has long said he was looking at decriminalizing the use of
marijuana and intended to go to the U.S. to explain his plans to American
officials, but he postponed his plans because of the Iraq conflict.

U.S. President George W. Bush said in January he was concerned Canada had
become an increasing source of potent marijuana.