POT DECRIMINALIZATION MAY COME IN MONTHS

Justice Minister Says That Bill Will Come In Early

OTTAWA - The federal government may introduce legislation early in the new
year to decriminalize the use of marijuana, says Justice Minister Martin
Cauchon.

"If we're talking about that question of decriminalizing marijuana, we may
move ahead quickly as a government," he said today outside the House of
Commons.

"I don't like to give you a date or a time frame, but let's say the
beginning of next year, the four first months of next year."

Cauchon said the long-awaited bill would depend partly on the views of a
special Commons committee that studied the use of non-medical drugs.

The committee released the first of two reports Monday, recommending that
heroin addicts in major cities should have safe-injection sites and
needle-exchange programs. It also said two prisons should be converted into
treatment centres for inmates.

A second report is due Thursday. That report is expected to recommend that
growing pot for personal use should not be a crime.

Sources familiar with the work of the committee said the move to
decriminalize marijuana would still make the possession of pot illegal, but
the punishment would be a fine rather than a criminal record.

"If you're going to decriminalize marijuana where is a person supposed to
get it?" said one well-placed source, who confirmed that the committee is
in favour of letting Canadians grow their own pot.

A Senate committee report issued in September went even further, saying
marijuana should be legalized for use by anybody over the age of 16.

The committee found that moderate use of the drug poses no serious
long-term dangers for adults and could be sold under controlled
circumstances, like liquor or in drug stores.

The government's throne speech this fall promised changes to drug laws,
including "the possibility of the decriminalization of marijuana possession."

Cauchon has said he would consider replacing jail time and criminal records
for pot convictions with fines.

Critics said Cauchon should not have spoken out before the committee tabled
its report.

Alliance MP Randy White said his party remains opposed to the
decriminalization of marijuana.