cannabisnews.com: Cauchon To Brief U.S. on Coming Pot Law Changes 





Cauchon To Brief U.S. on Coming Pot Law Changes 
Posted by CN Staff on May 13, 2003 at 12:30:26 PT
By CBC News Staff
Source: CBC
Ottawa - Justice Minister Martin Cauchon is travelling to Washington to try to sell U.S. officials on Canada's approach to decriminalizing simple possession of marijuana. "Obviously in terms of the United States, they are our partners," Cauchon told reporters Tuesday. "So I think it is important to inform them of what we are doing as a general rule." He will meet with U.S. Attorney-General John Ashcroft Tuesday night.
Asked if the government was sending a message through the forthcoming legislation that it was tolerant of recreational drug users, Cauchon said, "not at all." The law will state the use of cannabis is illegal in Canada. But it will provide for alternative penalties for those caught with small quantities and stiffen penalties for those growing or selling it, he said. The government says a national drug strategy will accompany the changes. The U.S. is concerned that any liberalization of drug policies in Canada will lead to greater drug flow across its borders. "For that, wait until you see the policy," Cauchon said. Media reports over the weekend said the government would table its proposed changes in Parliament on Thursday. Cauchon would only say they are coming soon, before Parliament breaks for the summer. He will be consulting the federal Liberal caucus on Wednesday. He wouldn't address media speculation that the quantity of marijuana at which the possession penalty would be decriminalized will be set at 15 grams instead of earlier reports which suggested it would be 30. Backgrounder: Up in Smoke?: http://www.cbc.ca/news/indepth/background/marijuana_legalize.htmlSource: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Published: Tuesday, May 13, 2003Copyright: 2003 CBCContact: letters cbc.ca Website: http://www.cbc.ca/Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmCauchon Brushes Off Pot Concerns http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16277.shtmlOttawa's Marijuana Plan Irks US http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16241.shtmlFor Sensible Marijuana Policy, Go Northhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16225.shtml 
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