ONE TOKE OVER THE LINE?

Score a lid and break out the bongs. The likelihood that Canada will
decriminalize marijuana within four months is neither surprising nor
alarming to those who have keeping an eye on Canada's war on drugs.

Langley-Abbotsford MP Randy White has been vice-chairman of a special
Parliamentary committee that has travelled the continent gathering
information on recreational drug use.

"What they're talking about is decriminalization," White said.
"Basically what that is is someone smoking marijuana. What you get is
a fine instead of a criminal conviction for minor amounts."

Wednesday he said there are decriminalization scenarios he could
support for pot possession for personal use.

"If there were certain conditions in place I could go along with that
- - providing the minor amount is less than five grams, which is about
three to five joints. If you're caught with it you get a fine, a
progressively increasing fine each time [one is caught]."

On Tuesday federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon was quoted in
national newspapers as saying he'd move quickly to institute the
decriminalization of marijuana.

"Of course, we will have to analyse all of the recommendations and if
we're talking about that question of decriminalizing marijuana, we may
move ahead quickly as a government," Cauchon said in the National
Post. "I don't like to give you a date or a time frame but quickly, I
mean, let's say, beginning of next year. Give me the first four months
of next year."

However, White said the federal government is talking about something
a little different - about allowing a personal amount of more than an
ounce of pot. The recommendations are also expected to allow the
growing of marijuana for personal use.

"What these guys are doing - which is just absurd - they're talking
about 30 grams," White said. "That's not for personal use. If you're
caught with that on you, you're not using that for yourself."

University College of the Fraser Valley criminology professor Darryl
Plecas agrees with White. "There's a lot of people getting busted for
trafficking on less than 30 grams," he said Wednesday.

Plecas authored two reports earlier this year - one on B.C. marijuana
growing operations and another on trafficking.

While Plecas said lowering the number of kids getting criminal records
for simple possession is admirable, opening the door to growers and
traffickers is what the government is doing.

"I would guess that the growers are clapping their hands in glee,"
Plecas said.

Abbotsford police spokesman Const. Shinder Kirk was cautious in
addressing the issue without an official government document in front
of him.

"Removing possession from a criminal realm to simply a fine may have
implications down the road, especially amongst youth and children,"
Kirk said. "We wouldn't want to see this as approval for these two
groups that it's OK to use drugs."

White also noted there is no way in place to test drivers impaired by
marijuana.

The parliamentary committee - of which White was part - was set to
release its recommendations Thursday.