PANEL: RELAX POT LAW

OTTAWA -- A parliamentary committee urged the Canadian government Thursday
to relax its laws on marijuana possession. The committee on the nonmedical
use of drugs said marijuana should be decriminalized but not legalized. This
means people possessing and cultivating pot in amounts less than 1.1 ounces
would be fined if caught. Under current law, they will get a criminal
record.

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon said this week that legislation to
decriminalize marijuana could be introduced early in 2003.