Major Revamp in Works to Win Over Opponents OTTAWA -- 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 grow 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 already reviewed Canada's drug strategy, instead of being studied by a full parliamentary committee. [continues 254 words]
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. [continues 165 words]
Provisions May Change In Bid To Pass Legislation Quickly OTTAWA -- 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 possession of up to 15 grams of weed but imposes stiffer penalties on traffickers and large grow operations -- is being hurried because it's among priorities considered "key to society." Today, it will be referred to a special committee of MPs that has already reviewed Canada's drug strategy instead of going to a full parliamentary committee. [continues 250 words]
Gun Law Protesters Want Day In Court, Others Fight Pot Price OTTAWA -- Try as they might, these gun-loving law-breakers just can't get busted. After a month-long coast-to-coast quest to get arrested, six firearms owners who are defying the federal registry law arrived to protest on Parliament Hill yesterday. The group was joined by a handful of local sign-toting supporters. "We want our day in court, and so far the government has been reluctant to give us our day in court," said Bruce Montague of Dryden, Ont. "We want, sincerely, to get in front of a judge and have the judge kill this law." [continues 156 words]
Two groups of protesters get their gun registry and medical pot messages out on Parliament Hill. OTTAWA -- Try as they might, these gun-loving lawbreakers just can't get busted. After a month-long coast-to-coast quest to get arrested, six firearms owners who are defying the federal registry law arrived to protest on Parliament Hill yesterday. The group was joined by a handful of local sign-toting supporters. "We want our day in court, and so far the government has been reluctant to give us our day in court," said Bruce Montague of Dryden. [continues 268 words]
MPs Fear Bill Will Encourage People To Toke And Drive OTTAWA -- Canada's new pot bill came under continued attack yesterday, with some backbench Liberal MPs questioning their own government's priorities. A handful of frustrated Liberals lashed out against a plan to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana -- a move they say sends mixed messages to youth and fails to address the dangers of drug-impaired drivers. A fuming Scarborough Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis suggested the marijuana bill is one more signal that Prime Minister Jean Chretien should vacate his post early -- and "the sooner the better." [continues 185 words]
OTTAWA -- Canada's new pot bill came under continued attack yesterday, with some backbench Liberal MPs questioning their own government's priorities. A handful of frustrated Grits lashed out against the plan to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana - a move they say sends mixed messages to youth and fails to address the dangers of drug-impaired drivers. A fuming Scarborough Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis suggested the marijuana bill is one more signal that Prime Minister Jean Chretien should vacate his post early - and "the sooner the better." [continues 251 words]
Canada's new pot bill came under continued attack yesterday, with some backbench Liberal MPs questioning their own government's priorities. A handful of frustrated Liberals lashed out against the plan to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana -- a move they say sends mixed messages to youth and fails to address the dangers of drug-impaired drivers. A fuming Scarborough Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis suggested the marijuana bill is one more signal Prime Minister Jean Chretien should vacate his post early -- and "the sooner the better." [continues 228 words]
Even Grits Fuming Over New Policy OTTAWA -- Canada's new pot bill came under continued attack yesterday, with some backbench Liberal MPs questioning their own government's priorities. A handful of frustrated Liberals lashed out against the plan to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana, a move they say sends mixed messages and fails to address the dangers of drug-impaired drivers. A fuming Scarborough Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis suggested the marijuana bill is one more signal that Prime Minister Jean Chretien should vacate his post early -- and "the sooner the better." [continues 227 words]
Pot Bill Will Mean More Young Tokers And Stoned Drivers, Critics Warn OTTAWA -- The federal government's plan to decriminalize small stashes of marijuana got off to a rocky start yesterday, with critics warning the move will mean more young tokers and a rash of stoned drivers on the road. Stressing that pot will remain illegal, Justice Minister Martin Cauchon tabled the controversial bill that would fine those caught with less than 15 grams of pot and impose stiffer sentences for those who grow or sell the weed. [continues 361 words]
Marijuana Legislation Criticized OTTAWA -- The federal government's plan to decriminalize small stashes of marijuana got off to a rocky start yesterday, with critics warning the move will mean more young tokers and a rash of stoned drivers on the road. Stressing that pot will remain illegal, Justice Minister Martin Cauchon tabled the controversial bill that would fine those caught with less than 15 grams of pot and impose stiffer sentences for those who grow or sell the weed. It's part of a sweeping $245-million anti-drug strategy that will focus on prevention, treatment and enforcement. But David Griffin, president of the Canadian Police Association, called the package a hasty "hodge-podge" that will create more problems than it resolves. The strategy neglects the urgent need for more resources to nab drug-impaired drivers and crack down on marijuana-growing operations, he said. [continues 330 words]
Pot Decriminalization Plan Under Fire In House The federal government's plan to decriminalize small stashes of marijuana got off to a rocky start yesterday, with critics warning the move will mean more young tokers and a rash of stoned drivers on the road. Stressing that pot will remain illegal, Justice Minister Martin Cauchon tabled the controversial bill that would fine those caught with less than 15 grams of pot and impose stiffer sentences for those who grow or sell the weed. [continues 445 words]
OTTAWA -- The federal government's plan to decriminalize small stashes of marijuana got off to a rocky start yesterday, with critics warning there will be more young tokers and a rash of stoned drivers on the road. Stressing that pot will remain illegal, Justice Minister Martin Cauchon tabled the controversial bill that would make possessing up to 15 grams of pot a minor offence that carries no criminal record. $100-$400 Fines Violators would be ticketed and ordered to pay fines ranging from $100 to $250 for youths and from $150 to $400 for adults. [continues 170 words]
OTTAWA -- The federal government will unveil a revamped national drug strategy today that softens up on pot users but cracks down on marijuana growers. Justice Minister Martin Cauchon insisted yesterday the policy's merits must be judged as a package, not on one single component of decriminalization. He denied the plan has been watered down due to U.S. concerns. The earlier plan was to decriminalize stashes of up to 30 grams, but recent reports have suggested the cap will be shrunk to 15 grams. Ontario Attorney General Norm Sterling criticized the federal plan, arguing that the intoxicating chemical in pot is up to 30 times stronger today than two decades ago. "This can lead to devastating effects, including increased addiction and other damaging health effects," he said. [end]
OTTAWA -- The federal government will unveil a revamped national drug strategy today that softens up on pot users, but cracks down on marijuana growers. Justice Minister Martin Cauchon insisted yesterday the policy's merits must be judged as a package, not on one single component of decriminalization. He denied the plan has been watered down to address concerns from the U.S. "All the policies are decisions that have been taken some time ago," he said. "We've reflected on it, we've consulted with people. It's going to be a good policy for Canadians." [continues 184 words]
The federal government will unveil a revamped drug strategy today that softens up on pot users but cracks down on marijuana growers. Justice Minister Martin Cauchon insisted yesterday the policy's merits must be judged as a package, not on one single component of decriminalization. He denied the plan has been watered down to address concerns from the U.S. "All the policies are decisions that have been taken some time ago. We've reflected on it, we've consulted with people. It's going to be a good policy for Canadians." [continues 108 words]
Opponents Urge Delay In Decriminalization Softening Canada's pot laws will be one more "irritant" to harm relations with the U.S., opposition members charge. Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper urged the Liberal government to postpone its plan to decriminalize marijuana yesterday, insisting more time is needed to heal the wounds from Canada's stand on the Iraq war and a series of anti-American comments. "The Americans view the possession of 30 grams as potential trafficking, and we share some of those concerns," he said. [continues 282 words]
OTTAWA -- Softening pot laws will be one more "irritant" to relations with the U.S., opposition members charge. Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper yesterday urged Liberals to postpone decriminalizing pot, saying time is needed to heal wounds from Canada's stand on Iraq and a series of anti-American comments. "The Americans view the possession of 30 grams as potential trafficking," he said. This week, Prime Minister Jean Chretien announced legislation to decriminalize possession of up to 30 grams of marijuana will be tabled before the summer recess. [continues 115 words]
OTTAWA -- Softening up Canada's pot laws would be one more "irritant" to harm relations with the U.S., Opposition members said yesterday. Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper urged the government to postpone its plan to decriminalize marijuana, insisting more time is needed to heal the wounds from Canada's position on the Iraq war and a series of anti-American comments. "The Americans view the possession of 30 grams as potential trafficking, and we share some of those concerns," Harper said. [continues 116 words]
OTTAWA -- Softening Canada's pot laws will be one more "irritant" to harm relations with the U.S., Opposition members charge. Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper urged the Liberal government to postpone its plan to decriminalize marijuana yesterday, insisting more time is needed to heal wounds from Canada's stand on the Iraq war and series of anti-American comments. "The Americans view the possession of 30 grams as potential trafficking, and we share some of those concerns," he said. Harper was reacting to Prime Minister Jean Chretien's announcement this week that legislation to decriminalize possession of up to 30 grams of marijuana will be tabled before the summer recess. [continues 91 words]
