MAJORITY WANTS MELLOWER LAWS

OTTAWA -- The country is going to pot.

According to an SES/Sun Media poll, 69% of Canadians favour the
decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana.

The survey found Canadians who were teenagers during the "flower power" '60s
were the group most likely to support easing our pot laws.

Among age groups, it showed that 76% of Canadians between the ages of 50 and
59, support decriminalization, while 72% of the 40 to 49 age group agree the
laws against smoking dope should be relaxed.

The poll surveyed 1,000 people between Feb. 2 and Feb. 11. The poll is
accurate plus or minus 3.1%, 19 times out of 20.

There was strong support for decriminalization in every region. Only 25% of
those who responded to the survey opposed our marijuana possession laws
going up in smoke.

"The opinions of Canadians may have been influenced by numerous media
stories related to the therapeutic use of marijuana for cancer patients,"
said SES President Nik Nanos.

Liberal, Tory and Alliance MPs say pot shouldn't be considered a harmless
recreational drug, even though a Senate committee last fall recommended
legalizing the smoking of pot for anybody older than 16.

Doing so would make Canada one of the most cannabis-friendly nations in the
world. The committee called the present criminal laws on possession of weed
outdated.

At the time, the Canadian Police Association lashed out at the
recommendation, calling it "a back-to-school gift for drug pushers."

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon doesn't plan to make the drug legal, but
favours a fine instead of a prison sentence for the possession of 30 grams
of weed for personal use.

Toronto-area Grit MP (Pickering-Ajax-Uxbridge) Dan McTeague says there needs
to be a national debate on the issue.

"As if we have not had the lesson of the destruction alcohol has reeked on
families," he said. "Do we need another form of mind-bending products that
are going to ruin people's lives?"

"It's wrong to go down that road," said Tory MP Elsie Wayne. "That is the
worst step that Canada can make right now for ... young people."

Alliance Justice critic Chuck Cadman called decriminalization a confusing
message for young people because the government is also telling them to
avoid drugs.

"Then on the other hand we send them a message from the Parliament of
Canada: 'Well, we'll decriminalize it anyway.' It's just that young people
take that kind of a message the wrong way," said Cadman.

REEFER MADNESS

Support for decriminalization by age groups:

Age Support Unsure Oppose
18-29 71% 4% 25%
30-39 72% 6% 22%
40-49 68% 6% 26%
50-59 76% 4% 21%
60+ 58% 8% 34%

7 out of 10 Canadians say decriminalize

Source: SES Canada Research