I'm surprised non of the pot headz out there posted this!


Chrétien ready to ease pot possession law
Applause greets promise to youth
'We're not legalizing it'


ANDREW CHUNG
OTTAWA BUREAU

OTTAWA — Calling his government "activist" and "not afraid to take on controversial issues," Prime Minister Jean Chrétien cast a nod at youth last night and vowed that marijuana would soon be decriminalized.

It was the first public pronouncement from Chrétien that possessing small quantities of marijuana would be decriminalized in Canada.

"We will soon introduce legislation to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana," he told a Liberal party fundraiser. Amid applause, he quipped, "Don't start to smoke it right away! We're not legalizing it."

Chrétien said that, in his youth, marijuana wasn't known. "I never tasted it." But he smoked cigarettes, when his father told him not to. "When he gave me permission at 16, I stopped."

Youth today are charged criminally for possession of marijuana.

"Some might have a criminal record that will be a shadow over his (her) life for years to come," the Prime Minister said. That makes decriminalization important so "young people do not have unnecessary criminal records for the rest of their lives."

Chrétien was speaking to 1,000 Liberal supporters, MPs, senators and corporate tables at the $500 a plate annual Maple Leaf Dinner in the capital.

He could barely begin speaking after being moved by a specially prepared "legacy" video, highlighting his 40-year political career, set to Frank Sinatra's crooning, "I did it my way."

Chrétien glowingly paraded his government's record since last fall's throne speech, implementing, he noted, the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gases and the new $34.8 billion health accord with the provinces. He said the February budget was the most activist social policy budget since Liberals took office in 1993.

Perhaps his most activist measure will be the easing of Canada's pot laws.

For months, Justice Minister Martin Cauchon has hinted the government would bring in legislation to remove the criminal stigma from personal possession. The bill is expected in June.

Chrétien indicated last night the system he favours is one where possession becomes a simple ticketing offence.

The bill would be accompanied by more resources to combat drug trafficking.

As far back as 30 years ago, when Chrétien was in Pierre Trudeau's cabinet, the Le Dain commission urged liberalization of marijuana laws. Chrétien gave no indication of concern that such law might further chill Canada-U.S. relations.

President George W. Bush's drug czar John Walters has blamed Canadian growers and smugglers for the high-strength pot on U.S. streets. But the Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Chiefs of Police support decriminalization.



Comments anyone?