Pot decriminalization sought in Canada

OTTAWA, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Possession of marijuana is the most common drug offense in Canada, a fact the government may use to decriminalize possession of the illegal weed.

A report issued Monday by Statistics Canada showed three in four drug crimes last year involved marijuana, with possession accounting for 72 percent of those offenses.

That means more than half of all drug-related offenses are possession of pot, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

The federal government plans to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, with violators paying only a small fine.