PRISON TERM URGED FOR MARIJUANA SALES

Canada's justice minister says people who sell or grow marijuana
belong in jail because pot is used as a "currency" to bring harder
drugs into the country.

"This lubricates the business and that makes me nervous," Rob
Nicholson told the Commons justice committee Wednesday as he faced
tough questions about a controversial Conservative bill to impose
automatic jail and prison sentences for drug crimes, including growing
as little as one pot plant.

"Marijuana is the currency that is used to bring other more serious
drugs into the country," he said.