TICKET TO FLY - TAMER POT LAWS MAKE SENSE - MPP

High-ranking rumblings over the prospect of softened pot laws are
being met with approval by least one provincial politician, who sees
no harm in relaxing the rules that govern the illicit weed.

"I wouldn't have any problem with that myself," Simcoe North MPP
Garfield Dunlop told Orillia Today.

Federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon sparked national debate last
week, by suggesting Canada may follow Britain's lead in
decriminalizing marijuana use.

Such a change would mean that possession of small amounts of pot would
no longer be considered a criminal offense. Instead, police would hand
out tickets with offenders simply paying a fine.

Dunlop believes the idea has merit.

"As far as making it less substantial of a charge, I wouldn't have a
problem with that whatsoever," he added.

Dunlop does, however, oppose legalizing marijuana altogether, arguing
that while pot is "not as severe a drug as others," sanctioning its
use sends the wrong message.

"When you open the door to legalizing something like marijuana, it is
like the government giving an alcoholic a drink," he added. "I don't
think we need to encourage people to buy it in any way. We have made
that mistake in the past with cigarettes."

Cauchon, 39, drew additional headlines by admitting he had tried pot
in the past, inferring that reporters shouldn't be surprised someone
of his generation would have done so.

Dunlop said that while many people his age have - and probably still
do - light up on occasion, he himself has never harbored any interest
in grass.

"I haven't (smoked pot) myself, I'm a red wine connoisseur, that's my
vice," said Dunlop, 50. "I've never tried marijuana and I don't intend
to start."

Cauchon expressed doubts about the effectiveness of current laws,
noting drug possession results in a criminal record for those
convicted and can lead to a person being barred from professional
certification, or from traveling to the U.S.

Before introducing any legislation, he wants to hear from a Senate
committee and a Commons committee now looking at the status of
Canada's cannabis laws.

Any change would require a lengthy period of public consultation
beforehand, he added.

Reached by Orillia Today, Simcoe North MP Paul DeVillers said he has
never tried marijuana, though not for any "moral" reason.

"It is something that more and more politicians are prepared to
admit," he added. "I personally haven't (smoked pot), because I
wouldn't put that junk in my lungs."

DeVillers noted that the Canadian Chiefs of Police have for years
supported the idea of reducing pot possession to a ticketable offense,
arguing that such a move would free-up resources and help unclog the
courts.

"(A ticket) is still a sanction ... it is not saying it is
acceptable," he added.