Pubdate: Thu, 09 Oct 2003 Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.fyiottawa.com/ottsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329 Author: Kathleen Harris, Parliamentary Bureau GRITS SMOKIN' AWAY ON POT PLAN The federal government is fast-tracking its plan to decriminalize marijuana, but the controversial bill will get a major makeover in a bid to win over staunch opponents. Justice Minister Martin Cauchon said the pot bill -- which decriminalizes 15 grams of weed but imposes stiffer penalties on traffickers and large growing operations -- is being hurried because it's among government priorities that are "key to society." Today, it will be referred to a special committee of MPs who have reviewed Canada's drug strategy, instead of being studied by a full parliamentary committee. "Cannabis reform is an important reform, and we believe that proceeding with the special committee, they already have the experience and we may be able to proceed faster," Cauchon said. Reduce Limit Likely amendments to come from the special committee include reducing the 15-gram limit, establishing a penalty system for repeat offenders and cracking down harder on marijuana-growing operations that are often linked to organized crime. Cauchon would not say if the marijuana bill would be doomed under a Paul Martin administration. Liberal MP Dan McTeague, who is among the throng of backbenchers opposed to decriminalizing marijuana, called the new tactic a "sneaky" way of rushing a dangerously flawed bill. "It would appear time is running out, and they're trying to do this through the back door and to fast-track it," McTeague said. "It's a sloppy, reckless way of approaching a serious piece of legislation for which there are more negatives to its proposals than positives." - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman