MARTIN NO CANNABIS CRUSADER

Alliance MP Keith Martin made it clear to university students he is not
pro-pot.

"I'm illicitly against drug use. But, as a physician, I recognize people
with substance abuse problems have medical problems and are not criminals,"
said Martin, who was in Winnipeg yesterday to promote his bill to
decriminalize marijuana possession.

"I don't see a lot of people taking a doobie and saying, 'I'm going to beat
the so-and-so out of you.'"

Martin's bill, now before parliament, would save $100 million in police
enforcement and court costs, he said. Money would then be freed up to spend
on tracking down the "real criminals" -- organized crime gangs in North
America, he said.

$200 FINE

In the bill, Martin suggests fines of $200 for a first offence of marijuana
possession, $500 for a second, and $1,000 for additional offences.

Sgt. Lyle MacMillan, of the Winnipeg police drug unit, said he's not
convinced the bill is a money saver for police who will still have to seize
the marijuana and issue offence notices.

When one student asked Martin if he had ever smoked pot, the MP declined to
answer, saying he does not talk about his personal life. However, Martin
did answer a revised question.

"Do I smoke pot? Absolutely not. I'm against the use of it other than for
medicinal reasons," he said.

Matt Hawn, one of more than 50 students who listened to Martin speak, said
he supports decriminalization because criminal records can make it
difficult to find a job.

"If you get charged, it restricts your freedom after that," said the Arts
student, who has smoked pot for 12 years and believes it's "a nice way to
release stress."

Martin said about 60% of MPs support his bill -- called Bill C-344. He
expects a vote in the House of Commons as early as March.