SENATE COMMITTEE BACKS LEGALIZING POT -- BUT POLICE JUST SAY NO

Pot smoking should be legal for any resident over 16, a Senate committee
said yesterday in a sweeping recommendation that goes beyond
decriminalization or even the kind of tolerance in such cannabis-friendly
jurisdictions as the Netherlands.

The report was hailed by marijuana activists but fiercely condemned by the
Canadian Police Association, which called it "a back-to-school gift for
drug pushers."

Sen. Pierre Claude Nolin, chairman of the special committee that drafted
the report, acknowledged the issue remains in the hands of the federal
government and said nothing is likely to happen quickly.

A House of Commons committee is expected to issue a report on illicit drugs
in November. Justice minister Martin Cauchon said the government will study
those findings and won't unveil its position before early next year.

Canadian Alliance MP Randy White, co-chair of the Commons committee
studying non-medical use of drugs, agreed with Cauchon's view that the
government wait until his committee reports.

White said he had several problems with the Senate committee's views,
including its recommendation that Canadians as young as 16 be able to buy
cannabis from government-run stores.

"You can't even buy cigarettes or alcohol in Canada until you are 18, but
it would be OK to light up a joint?" White wondered.

Cauchon wouldn't say whether he feels the time has come for legalization,
but he did suggest current marijuana laws are outdated.

When we have legislation that's not really being enforced because it's no
longer consistent with social realities, it's important for a government to
look at and reshape such legislation."

While all political parties support decriminalization, legalization is a
big step beyond that. The former would make it legal to possess small
amounts of cannabis for personal use; the latter could see it sold at
government outlets-even corner stores.

The report said the current system of prohibition simply doesn't work and
should be replaced by a regulated system, perhaps like that used for
alcohol, with cannabis available to anyone 16 or older.

"Scientific evidence overwhelmingly indicates cannabis is substantially
less harmful than alcohol and should be treated not as a criminal issue but
as a social and public health issue," Nolin said.

The senators called for an amnesty for the 300,000-600,000 Canadians who
have a criminal record for simple possession of cannabis.

They also recommended improvements to ease access to medicinal marijuana
for people undergoing cancer chemotherapy, or those suffering from glaucoma
or chronic pain.

David Griffin, executive director of the Canadian Police Association, said
he was appalled by the report.