Pubdate: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 Source: Whitehorse Star (CN YK) Copyright: 2002 Whitehorse Star Contact: http://www.whitehorsestar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1493 Author: Jason Small JUSTICE MINISTER AWAITING CHANGES TO MARIJUANA LAW The Yukon government will wait until Ottawa makes an official decision before it gets off the pot on the issue of decriminalizing marijuana. Recently, a committee of federal MPs released a report recommending that anybody caught with up to 30 grams of marijuana receive a fine instead of being charged and left with a criminal record. According to the report, fines would be paid without a court appearance and people would not receive a criminal conviction, much like a speeding ticket. However, the selling of marijuana would remain a crime. Federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon has said the government could introduce a bill in the House of Commons to decriminalize the possession of marijuana. While Cauchon's comments and the committee's report have some provinces concerned, the Yukon government won't say anything until it sees some action. Cabinet spokesman Peter Carr said last week that Justice Minister Elaine Taylor will not comment on the possibility of decriminalizing marijuana until the federal government actually does something on the matter besides talk about it. The ideas being thrown forward by Ottawa would also cut cultivating small amounts of weed at home from the list of criminal offences. However, there has been no suggestion by the committee to legalize the possession of pot. According to The Canadian Press, committee chair Paddy Torsney, a Liberal MP from the riding of Burlington, Ont., said two weeks ago that while smoking grass is not healthy, the legal consequences do not match the potential harm of using the drug. The special committee was created to study the non-medical use of marijuana. Torsney also said the committee had been told the prosecution of cannabis-related charges takes up too much time in the legal system. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth