Pubdate: Mon, 02 Jun 2003
Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Copyright: 2003 Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

CELLUCCI CRITICIZING CANADIAN POT PLAN

Ambassador Predicts Tighter Border Security

WORCESTER, Mass. -- U.S. Ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci says he has 
told Canadian leaders that their proposal to decriminalize marijuana for 
personal use would result in much-tighter security along its 5,500-mile 
border with the United States.

More vehicles would be stopped and searched at crossing checkpoints that 
already have high security since Sept. 11, 2001, the former Massachusetts 
governor told the Telegram and Gazette of Worcester.

Maine has a 611-mile border with Canada's Quebec and New Brunswick provinces.

"If the perception is that it's easier to get marijuana in, then some 
border officials' antennas will be up," Cellucci said.

"We don't think it's a good thing, and there will probably be more 
inspections."

Caches of Canadian-grown marijuana have been increasingly found in recent 
drug busts in Massachusetts and other states, which worries him, Cellucci said.

Canadian lawmakers last week proposed a new marijuana law that would 
eliminate a criminal record for possession of marijuana in small amounts 
while spending millions to spread an anti-pot message.

Under the measure introduced in Parliament, getting caught with 15 grams -- 
about half an ounce -- or less of marijuana would bring a citation akin to 
a traffic ticket, not a criminal record.

Possession of marijuana would remain illegal and the maximum sentence for 
illegal growers would be increased by double to 14 years in prison.

Cellucci's expression of U.S. positions toward its largest trading partner 
have been more vocal than many predecessors, including the time he publicly 
accused Prime Minister Jean Chretien's government of deserting the United 
States by not supporting the then-impending war on Iraq.

Traditionally, many ambassadors to Canada have seen their roles as largely 
ceremonial.

"He is markedly different. His predecessors have really been a shadow of 
American foreign policy, whereas Mr. Cellucci has really been an evangelist 
of sorts, and much stronger," said Rob M. McGowan, editor of Politics 
Canada, the country's biggest independent political Web site.

"He's really been very, very vocal. He doesn't whisper things in perfumed 
diplomatic corridors," McGowan said. "It's done before large groups. It's 
definitely tempered by diplomacy. You might not agree with what he says, 
but at least he says it directly."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom