NO RECORD FOR A PINCH OF POT?

OTTAWA -- Possession of up to 30 grams of marijuana should not saddle
someone with a criminal record, a Commons committee will recommend today.

But it will not support an amnesty for people with records for past
possession convictions.

The report from the special parliamentary committee on the non-medicinal
use of drugs won't propose that pot be legalized. Rather, it will recommend
that small amounts be sanctioned with something other than the full weight
of the criminal justice system -- likely a fine.

30-GRAM CEILING

Committee member Randy White, a Canadian Alliance MP from British Columbia,
said the report -- which will also recommend a 30-gram ceiling for people
who grow their own marijuana -- goes too far.

"You may as well start legalizing it," he complained in an interview.

But New Democrat Libby Davies, another committee member, said committee
didn't go far enough.

"It's still basically leaving the possession of cannabis as illegal,"
Davies said. "Any trafficking would still be illegal. So it's still leaving
in place all of the harms from prohibition."

On Monday, federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon said the government
could bring in legislation early in the new year to decriminalize pot use.