RELAXED POT LAWS FAVOURED BY MOST

Decriminalize It, Say 69 Per Cent In A New Survey.

OTTAWA -- Sixty-nine per cent of Canadians favour the decriminalization of
possession of small amounts of marijuana, according to an SES/ Sun Media
poll.

The survey found Canadians who were teenagers during the "flower power"
1960s were the group most likely to support easing pot laws.

Among age groups, it showed 76 per cent of Canadians between the ages of 50
and 59 support decriminalization while 72 per cent 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 11.

There was strong support for decriminalization in every region. Only 25 per
cent 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 anyone 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outdated.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 criticized 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 possession of 30 grams of
weed for personal use.

Toronto-area Liberal MP Dan McTeague says there needs to be a national
debate on the issue.

"As if we have not had the lesson of the destruction that 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 the future of our young
people."

Alliance Justice critic Chuck Cadman called decriminalization a confusing
message for youth because the government is also telling them not to use
drugs.