Pubdate: Sun, 27 Apr 2003 Source: Guelph Mercury (CN ON) Copyright: 2003 Guelph Mercury Newspapers Limited Contact: http://www.guelphmercury.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1418 Author: Jacques Boissinot Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) COPPS 'ABSOLUTELY' SUPPORTS DECRIMINALIZING POT; 'OF COURSE' SHE'S SMOKED IT OTTAWA (CP) - Add prospective prime minister Sheila Copps to the list of Canadians who would like to see the federal government decriminalize simple possession of marijuana. With a growing legal clamour for Justice Minister Martin Cauchon to roll out the long-promised and frequently delayed legislation, Copps said she "absolutely" backs a change. "I support it, but I haven't been on record, so I am now," the Liberal leadership candidate told The Canadian Press in an interview. Provincial courts have thrown federal possession laws into limbo by staying minor charges in the face of mixed signals coming from Ottawa. Last month, a provincial court judge in Nova Scotia stayed charges against a woman caught in possession of a small amount of pot. The judge cited similar stays in Prince Edward Island and Ontario. The impasse took root almost three years ago when the Ontario Appeal Court ruled that federal drug laws violated the rights of a man who smoked pot for medical reasons. The court gave Parliament a year to revamp the law. Since then, Senate and Commons committees have recommended more lenient legislation or outright legalization. The Commons group proposed in December that Canadians be allowed to possess up to 30 grams of marijuana without facing jail time. Fines would supplant a criminal record for such misdemeanours. Cauchon welcomed the findings and promised legislation by this month, although he later backed away from the time line. The Justice Department has also argued that until new legislation is brought in, the existing laws should be applied without reservation. Leadership candidate Paul Martin is on the record as saying possession of small amounts should not lead to a criminal record. South of the border, American legislators and the U.S. drug czar have promised grim reprisals - starting with longer lineups at border crossings - if Canada moves to decriminalize pot. Copps, for one, doesn't appear to be fazed by the tough American talk of barring Canadian tokers from U.S. travel. The 50-year-old, who attended the University of Western Ontario and university in Rouen, France, freely acknowleged she smoked marijuana in her salad days. "As a young person? Of course," said Copps, before laughing self consciously. "My mother's going to be reading this," she lamented. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh