ALBERTA LESS THAN EUPHORIC AT PROSPECT

Alberta politicians are not high on a Senate report that recommends
legalization of marijuana.

"Quite frankly, we find that the police in this province - and the public,
for the most part - certainly the schools, would be very concerned. They
just don't need more problems of that nature," said Attorney General David
Hancock.

Provincial officials have only "speculated" in the past about the impact of
the feds decriminalizing pot - a step far short of legalizing it - and
didn't like where that took them, Hancock said.

"The police are very concerned about marijuana as a drug, its potency, its
ability to get people involved in a drug culture and those sorts of issues,
and I think those are issues our community shares a concern about."

The Senate report argues that the current prohibition doesn't work and
marijuana could be handled the same as a regulated product such as alcohol.

Ron Stevens, the minister responsible for Alberta liquor laws and the
privatized sales system, isn't ready to clear warehouse shelf space for a
new kind of Bud.

"It probably could be reviewed in the context of the rules people think are
appropriate, but I would venture to say there's a long way to go" before
that occurs, Stevens said.

Solicitor General Heather Forsyth, responsible for policing in Alberta,
said she can't comment on the issue because she is unaware of where police
stand on the matter.

This winter the Supreme Court of Canada is to hear a constitutional
challenge of current marijuana laws.