T
The420Guy
Guest
OTTAWA (CP) - Prime Minister Paul Martin says his government will reintroduce
legislation to decriminalize simple possession of marijuana when Parliament
sits
again in the new year.
Martin indicated Thursday that the bill, first brought in under Jean Chretien,
could be toughened in committee before it passes. "I think that one's got to
take a look at the fines," he said. "I think that you have to take a look the
quantities, and I think that there has to be a larger effort against the
grow-ops and against those who distribute."
But the prime minister said he agrees with the principle that young people
should not be dogged throughout life by a criminal record if they are caught in
possession of small amounts of pot.
The Supreme Court of Canada is set to rule next week on a challenge to the
current marijuana law in which the key issue is whether criminal penalties,
including jail time, for simple possession violate the Charter of Rights.
Martin's comments clearly signalled that, even if the high court upholds the
constitutionality of the present law, his government will still move to change
it.
The prime minister's remarks came as he prepared to meet Newfoundland Premier
Danny Williams, who was in Ottawa to confer on unrelated regional issues.
Source: Canadian Press
Pubdate: December 18, 2003
legislation to decriminalize simple possession of marijuana when Parliament
sits
again in the new year.
Martin indicated Thursday that the bill, first brought in under Jean Chretien,
could be toughened in committee before it passes. "I think that one's got to
take a look at the fines," he said. "I think that you have to take a look the
quantities, and I think that there has to be a larger effort against the
grow-ops and against those who distribute."
But the prime minister said he agrees with the principle that young people
should not be dogged throughout life by a criminal record if they are caught in
possession of small amounts of pot.
The Supreme Court of Canada is set to rule next week on a challenge to the
current marijuana law in which the key issue is whether criminal penalties,
including jail time, for simple possession violate the Charter of Rights.
Martin's comments clearly signalled that, even if the high court upholds the
constitutionality of the present law, his government will still move to change
it.
The prime minister's remarks came as he prepared to meet Newfoundland Premier
Danny Williams, who was in Ottawa to confer on unrelated regional issues.
Source: Canadian Press
Pubdate: December 18, 2003
