CAUCHON SAYS POT LAWS COULD BE EASED

Ottawa -- Ottawa will consider loosening up Canada's marijuana laws,
possibly by decriminalizing simple possession of the drug.

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon made the suggestion Monday while
questioning the efficacy of current pot laws and whether they are applied
equally across the country.

He added, however, that the federal government would continue to make
possession illegal, although it might be preferable to replace jail
sentences and criminal records with fines.

"We're not talking about making it legal, we're talking about the
possibility of moving ahead with what we call decriminalization," Mr.
Cauchon said Monday. "The question we have to ask is if the system we have
in place is efficient. We want to make sure it will still be illegal. But
do we have to keep it criminal?"

He added that he will wait for two separate reports from parliamentary
committees on the issue of drugs before moving forward. One of the
committees, a senate committee, has already issued a preliminary report
that says there is no scientific evidence that cannabis leads users to
harder narcotics.

Last week, Britain decided to relax its possession laws. Starting next
summer, police there will no longer have the automatic power to arrest a
person found with small quantities of marijuana. They will have the right
to confiscate the drug, but can only arrest someone when their use
threatens public order or children. Traffickers would still be liable for
sentences of up to 14 years.

Monday, Mr. Cauchon referred to the British decision.

"There are some countries that have decided to move ahead because if you
look at the system that we have in place, keeping it criminal, it's not
very efficient," he said. "Maybe we can find a way to keep it illegal and
be more constructive, more effective, more efficient as well."

Because possession is still considered criminal, very often jurisdictions
do not apply the law, he said. He added that it was a bit too early to
begin gauging cabinet support for the idea.

Canadian Alliance MP Randy White said Mr. Cauchon acted irresponsibly by
making his remarks before the release of the parliamentary reports.

"This is a substantial comment that he's made," said Mr. White, who sits on
a House of Commons committee examining the issue.

"If that's how they run the country, by jumping into things without even
knowing what they're talking about, then heaven help us."

Mr. Cauchon said the government might also look at programs to help people
who "are using such a substance."

The government will launch a consultation with Canadians before moving forward.

Just a year ago, Prime Minister Jean Chretien ruled out decriminalization.
However, the Senate report issued two months ago found that most
recreational users smoke marijuana irregularly, with 10 per cent becoming
chronic users.

Alan Young, a civil rights lawyer and champion of decriminalization, said
Monday that it is unclear what Mr. Cauchon is proposing. Most of those
convicted of possession do not go to jail currently, and what the
government needs to do is ensure those caught with the drug do not receive
a criminal record.

The real problem for most offenders is the employment difficulties and
travel restrictions that a conviction imposes upon them, he said.

"I've heard these things too many times before," he said. "It's a small
step forward but it doesn't really address the problem."

Any move to decriminalize simple possession of marijuana is likely to be
unpopular with the United States because of its relatively open border with
Canada, and could lead to trade difficulties.

Canada is already portrayed in the U.S. media as the source of a great deal
of the pot -- particularly the potent B.C. bud -- available south of the
border. When Ottawa began allowing marijuana to be used for medical
reasons, U.S. newspapers reported it as a sign of a soft stand on drugs.
Although the numbers are not supported, the United States media has
suggested that as much as half of the pot grown in Canada goes south.