cannabisnews.com: Canada, U.S. To Have Pot Talk Canada, U.S. To Have Pot Talk Posted by CN Staff on May 13, 2003 at 06:52:48 PT By Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa Bureau Source: Toronto Star Ottawa — Justice Minister Martin Cauchon travels today to Washington to allay U.S. concerns over the Liberal government's plan to ease its marijuana laws.Cauchon is expected to outline the government's plan to beef up the National Drug Strategy, with more emphasis on law enforcement against traffickers and "illegal growing operations" and less emphasis on individual, recreational users of pot. Although the government has signalled for months it will "decriminalize" marijuana, the plan triggered an outcry from law enforcement officials in the United States. Now, sources say, the Liberals have decided to retain possession of small amounts as a "criminal" offence while at the same time easing sanctions under the law.As the Star reported Saturday, the government plans to offer "alternative" penalties such as fines rather than jail under the Contraventions Act, and leave enforcement and collection of those fines to the provinces. The intent is to ensure those caught with small amounts of pot — less than 20 grams — do not get stuck with a criminal record. In addition, the government will emphasize tougher penalties for those who peddle drugs. Sources say trafficking penalties will be doubled, with jail time to be meted out according to the amount of drugs found in a trafficker's possession. The move today to explain the policy to U.S. administration officials is unusual because the policy has not yet been unveiled in Parliament. That's expected as early as Thursday.In the Commons yesterday, Cauchon revealed little about the strategy. But he noted a Commons committee last year "supported the idea of proceeding with alternative measures and decriminalization.""We are talking about investing in research," he added. "We are talking about better enforcement. The message that we want to send to all Canadians is that the use of drugs in Canada is illegal. We want to make sure that people understand that it is harmful to their health."Cauchon will meet today with his U.S. counterpart, Attorney-General John Ashcroft, to outline the plan, which has been crafted after Liberal cabinet colleagues voiced concerns about U.S. opposition to any move toward softer drug laws.In an interview last week, Cauchon told the Star he spoke briefly about the renewed National Drug Strategy to Ashcroft last week at a G-8 justice ministers' meeting in France. Yesterday in the Commons, Canadian Alliance MP Randy White (Langley-Abbotsford) , who supports a broader drug rehabilitation program, asked why a drug strategy had not been put in place prior to the announcement of the decriminalization of marijuana. Cauchon said the plan will be a "reform of the cannabis law and, at the same time, the renewal of the national drug strategy as a package."Note: Minister wants to outline drug plan. Plans to ease law sparked concern.Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)Author: Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa BureauPublished: May 13, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Toronto Star Contact: lettertoed thestar.com Website: http://www.thestar.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmCauchon Heads To D.C. To Explain New Pot Lawhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16267.shtmlCanada Minister To Outline Pot Plan To Washingtonhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16265.shtmlOttawa's Marijuana Plan Irks US http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16241.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Post Comment