MARIJUANA PARTY BOSS FUMING

Says Proposal Helps Government, Not Users

Police and the government will milk the proposed decriminalization of
pot like a cash cow, warns the leader of the Marijuana party.

"The day that the government realizes there's money to be made by
fining marijuana users, I guarantee there's going to be an increase in
repression," said Marc-Boris St-Maurice.

Agreeing it's a step toward legalization, St-Maurice is fuming about a
Commons committee recommendation that would see those caught
possessing up to 30 grams fined.

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon has said he's ready to roll on the
decriminalization of marijuana for personal use by early next year.

St-Maurice, a former musician who works full-time to legalize pot,
said the decriminalization proposed could make life "potentially
worse" for pot users.

"Like we have with speeding tickets where at the end of the month
they've got to up the quota, so they put out radar traps. I wouldn't
be surprised to see groups of police ... go out and hustle up some
marijuana users ... because (they) need money to buy bullets for
(their) guns," St-Maurice said.

St-Maurice came fourth in the 2000 election - ahead of the Tories,
Alliance and NDP - but failed to beat Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles
Duceppe in his Montreal riding.

St-Maurice said 30 grams of pot could make six "very large" joints or
100 "very, very small joints," adding a "daily user" could be expected
to burn up about 30 grams a month.

St-Maurice said another problem with the proposal is its
recommendation the 30-gram limit include plants being grown by users
for themselves.

"A 30-gram plant is tiny and may only produce a gram or half a gram of
usable product, so in order to grow your 30 grams you're going to have
to have 700 grams of plant material."

St-Maurice said he's also upset MPs failed to recommend amnesty for
those with criminal records from pot convictions.

"It's just blowing smoke," he said of the report.