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Revamped marijuana bill could pass before federal election call
By: Jim Bronskill, Canadian Press, 02/03/04

OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government is open to revamping its controversial marijuana bill when it moves to reintroduce the legislation this month, Justice Minister Irwin Cotler suggested Tuesday.

The government will take steps to resurrect the bill, which would decriminalize possession of small amounts of pot, at the stage where it died when the last session of Parliament ended, Cotler said. That may mean there is time to pass the bill before the next election, expected in the spring.

The legislation was slated to return to the Commons from committee study when the government pulled the plug on Parliament last November.

The bill, which has rankled some of the more conservative-minded members of the Liberal caucus, would impose a maximum fine of $400 for adults caught with 15 grams or less of marijuana - enough for about 20 cigarettes.

At the same time, maximum sentences for marijuana growers would rise and the government would put about $150 million toward anti-drug education efforts.

Cotler said Tuesday the government would proceed "along the same principles and policies."

But his comments indicated concerns about the bill on the part of anxious Liberals, including Prime Minister Paul Martin, might prompt changes.

"When it is introduced, it will be introduced with the possibility at that point for amendments to be developed," he said.

Among the changes might be stiffer penalties for organized criminals involved in large growing operations, a phenomenon that Cotler said is "something that concerns us."

Martin Cauchon, Cotler's predecessor in the justice portfolio, had previously opened the door to potential changes, including:

- Lowering the limit for non-criminal possession to 10 grams.

- Increasing fines for repeat offenders.

- Ensuring illicit growers would serve time behind bars.

The U.S. government has voiced concerns about Canada's plan to decriminalize pot. But Cotler insisted Tuesday he was not being swayed by the opposition.