FEDS APPEAL POT RULING

The federal government has filed an appeal against an Ontario court
ruling that there are no laws forbidding the possession of small
amounts of marijuana.

Jim Leising, the Justice Department's director of prosecution in the
province, confirmed yesterday the feds are appealing so the laws
surrounding possession will be clarified.

Leising hopes the Ontario Superior Court will hear the appeal within
the next 30 days.

"Whatever uncertainty that was created by this judgement would be
cleared up, and that would mean everyone would be in agreement that
the prohibition against possession of marijuana is valid."

Justice Douglas Phillips threw out charges against a 16-year-old
Windsor teen Thursday, siding with the defence lawyer's argument that
there are no laws in Canada prohibiting the possession of 30 grams of
marijuana or less.