ONTARIO POOH-POOHS POT PROPOSAL

Globe and Mail Update with CP

Toronto - Federal Justice Department plans to decriminalize the use of
marijuana were met with a decidedly frosty response from Ontario Tuesday.

"I'm flabbergasted that the federal government has prioritized the
decriminalization of marijuana at this time," said Ontario Attorney-General
David Young.

"It is not a priority for this government."

On Monday, federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon said Ottawa wanted to
move quickly on the issue and could bring in legislation early in the new
year to decriminalize pot use.

Police chiefs across the country have also advocated decriminalization but
Mr. Young, who admitted to "one youthful indiscretion" when it comes to pot,
said officers on the beat aren't in favour.

"I stand with organized, front-line police officers across this country who
say that this is a serious problem, who say that revenues from marijuana go
to organized crime to finance other criminal endeavours."

RCMP Chief Superintendent Raf Souccar said that police chiefs across the
country have said all along that they would be willing to look at
"alternative measures" for minor possession of marijuana, if a comprehensive
framework is put in place that would involve treatment, rehabilitation,
reinforcement and prevention.

Such a framework might mean that instead of charging someone with minor
possession they would instead be sent to a program similar to "john schools"
set up for prostitution, Supt. Souccar told globeandmail.com.

Supt. Souccar has said that discussions are still under way but in his
opinion a minor possession might be considered five grams, others, he said
have the amount be larger.

Police chiefs across the country are looking for a fully-funded federal drug
strategy that would not only look at decriminalization for possession but
also address the production of marijuana - something that is largely
controlled by organized crime in the country, he said.

"The amount that can be grown is absolutely phenomenal," he said.

In the Greater Toronto area alone, marijuana is currently being grown in an
estimated 10,000 homes or other sites, he said, adding that the same number
of grow houses exist in the Vancouver area.

After meeting recently with U.S. drug officials, Supt. Souccar said the
Americans are "very concerned" about Canada's position on decriminalization.

"They are very concerned about the stance that is being taken in Canada,"
Supt. Souccar said, adding however, that U.S. and Canadian officials
continue to discuss the issues and work together on joint drug enforcement
programs.

Justice ministers across the country - especially in British Columbia - have
expressed concerns about the increased sale of pot and the proliferation of
illegal grow houses to produce it, Ontario's Attorney-General said.

Saskatchewan Justice Minister Chris Axworthy said he doubted people would
applaud the initiative but said his government would poll the province's
residents to see if there was any support.

"It certainly appears to be the trend in other countries," Mr. Axworthy
said.

Any bill would depend in part on a Commons committee that studied the use of
non-medical drugs.

The committee apparently plans to recommend on Thursday that possession of
pot should remain illegal but punishment should become a fine rather than a
criminal record.

Manitoba Attorney-General Gord Mackintosh said provincial ministers haven't
discussed decriminalization in any depth and he didn't view it as a
priority.

Instead, he said, Ottawa should look at the money "that is being wasted on
the gun registry ... and divert resources to the enforcement of an effective
drug strategy."

In September, a Senate committee said 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 drugstores.

Ontario Premier Ernie Eves, who has admitted to smoking pot in his salad
days, suggested the feds were floating a trial balloon but joked it was an
"interesting revenue-producing measure."

With reports from Allison Lawlor