Pubdate: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 Source: Toronto Sun (Canada) Copyright: 1999, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoSun/ REFORM PARTY TABLES POT BILL Reform MP Keith Martin introduced legislation in Parliament yesterday that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. Martin's private members' bill would amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and parallels elements of a policy adopted by the Canadian Association of Police Chiefs last week. "I would like to see our police officers pursuing rapists and organized crime barons, not people for simple possession," said Martin, a doctor by training. His bill was also the source of some embarrassment yesterday because it also called on the Feds to decriminalize trafficking of marijuana in small amounts. Bureaucrats were called to fix the blunder. And amendments were immediately sought by police chiefs so police would have the option of charging someone with 30 grams or less or marijuana or one gram or less of cannabis resin. Police want the option of issuing a ticket that would come with a fine and no criminal record. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake