Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said both bills would be introduced next month. He said the wording in the decriminalization bill, which was first introduced by his predecessor, Martin Cauchon, would not be changed.

"It might get changed in committee, but we are basically reintroducing that legislation," said Cotler. He added that the bills are part of the Liberal Party's agenda to overhaul the country's criminal-justice system.

"If I were to look at our legislative and parliamentary agenda, I think we probably, proportionately, have as many if not more bills from our department and that relate to criminal justice than anywhere else in the government," Cotler said.

Although the bill would reduce the penalty for people caught possessing small amounts of marijuana, Cotler said police would be given more authority to stop and test anyone who smokes marijuana and then gets behind the wheel.

Under the current law, there is no legal obligation for drivers to submit to a breathalyzer test to determine whether they are under the influence of marijuana.

"Now a technology has been developed which allows for a parallel process with regard to drug-impaired driving to be investigated and enforced as we have for alcohol-impaired driving," said Cotler.

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