Canadian government is attacked for plan to legalise marijuana

Canada's federal government is under fire from US officials, the Canadian police, and even some of its own members of parliament for having introduced a bill decriminalising possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Under the Cannabis Reform Bill possession of less than 15 g of marijuana would still be illegal but would lead to fines of $C100 (£180; $290; €250) to $C400, depending on circumstances such as the age of possessors and whether they were driving a vehicle. Possession now carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a fine of …