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Pubdate: Thu, 01 May 2003 Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.fyitoronto.com/torsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457 Author: Kathleen Harris ALERT: Please Support Canadian Cannabis Law Reform With LTEs Now! http://www.mapinc.org/alert/0265.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) CRITICS: NEW POT LAW WILL BUG U.S. 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. SMALLER AMOUNT The Alliance supports decriminalization, but only for up to five grams. John Walters, director of the White House office of National Drug Control Policy, said decriminalization makes little sense. "When you make the penalties minimal you get more drug use, you get more drug addiction, you get more drug production, you get more drug crime," he said. Justice Minister Martin Cauchon tried to allay concerns by stressing that decriminalization is part of a policy that will include ramped-up prevention tactics and tough enforcement measures. Tory MP Peter MacKay said he's worried easing pot laws will create more problems at the border and sour relations with the U.S. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh