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Marijuana: Washington warns Ottawa

By: Helene Buzzetti, Le Devoir, 04/25/0

In the event of decriminalization, the United States could step up border checks

Ottawa - If Canada decrimininalizes marijuana as anticipated, the Federal Government must state loudly and strongly that is still not legal to consume - -- or else the United States will tighten the border, U.S. ambassador Paul Celluci said yesterday.

According to Mr. Cellucci, it is all a question of "perception". If Canadians perceive that Ottawa's move is a relaxation of repression against this drug, or as a signal that it will be easier to get it, the American agents at the border will be "on the alert" to make sure that people will not try to bring some into the United States.

"More vehicles will be searched because border agents will know more people willl transport marijuana to the United States", said Mr. Cellucci in interview with Le Devoir. "It is a natural reaction on behalf of the officers." "Our concern it is that one should not generate more activity at the border because all our efforts [of the past years] were precisely aimed at creating a secure border, and thus to remove pressure", he continued.

The federal minister of justice, Martin Cauchon, promises to introduce a bill between now and the summer by which a person stopped with a small quantity of marijuana would pay a fine, but would not find themselves with a criminal record. The time being there is no plans to legalize the substance

A question of interpretation

Obviously, the American authorities worry about the interpretation which could be made because of this change in the rules of the game. "I speak about perception", insisted Mr. Cellucci, who repeated this word on several occasions during the interview. "Until now, the media presented [this initiative] as being a significant easing of the law. If the message sent implies that it is easy to get marijuana in Canada, that will create pressure at the border. But if, in fact, it is not what the law does, then it falls on the government to make this message heard.

Mr. Cellucci recognizes that the current law on the marijuana is not applied uniformly and believes that the future initiative of Ottawa could offer an occasion to make the law tougher. "For the moment, if a person is picked up in possession of marijuana, he goes before the court and nothing happens: no fine, no threat of a prison sentence, nothing! But, if a person must pay a fine of $500, perhaps that that will make [marijuana] less available."

It is, moreover, that message which Minister Cauchon puts forward since he took over this post. His objective, which he repeats regularly, is to make sure that the Canadian laws, whatever they are, are applied in all circumstances.

"When one speaks about decriminalisation of the marijuana, one does not speak about legalization," he said Wednesday. That has nothing to do with it. One wants to be sure that one will install a legislative framework which we will be able to creat respect [for the law] and which we will send a clear message to the effect that it is illegal in Canada."