Pubdate: Thu, 05 Sep 2002
Source: Sun News (SC)
Copyright: 2002 Sun Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://web.thesunnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/987
Author: Tom Cohen, Associated Press

CANADIAN PANEL URGES LEGALIZING MARIJUANA USE

TORONTO - A parliamentary committee called for legalizing marijuana use 
among adults, increasing pressure on the government to shift drug laws away 
from the zero-tolerance policy of the United States. The report by the 
Senate Committee on Illegal Drugs recommended that Canada adopt a system 
that regulates marijuana the same way as alcohol, and expunge criminal 
records for marijuana possession.

"There is no good reason to subject the consumers of cannabis to the 
application of criminal law," said Sen. Pierre Nolin of the Progressive 
Conservative party. "In a free society as ours, it's up to the individual 
to decide whether to consume cannabis or not."

Though not binding, the report will force Prime Minister Jean Chretien's 
Liberal Party to explain what provisions it accepts or rejects and why.

Under current law, marijuana possession is illegal in Canada. Last year, 
the government passed rules allowing eligible medical patients to grow and 
possess marijuana, but it has yet to create a distribution network.

U.S. antidrug groups say liberalizing Canadian drug laws would increase 
access to illegal drugs in the United States.
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