The Toronto Star reports that the Canadian Government is backing off plans to decriminalize marijuana.

The decision was made just days after the U.S. threatened increased border crackdowns if the plan went into effect.

Under the new plan, possession of small amounts of pot would still be a criminal offense, but the offender would not "register a criminal record" and the penalties will be fines, not jail.

Also, under the new plans, penalties for drug trafficking will be doubled and more money will be spent at targeting traffickers.

Last week, U.S. drug czar John Walters suggested border traffic would slow to a crawl because the U.S. would increase inspections to stop smugglers from illegally shipping "poison" south.

Will Glaspy, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency spokesman, told The Detroit News yesterday that talk of decriminalizing pot in Canada would mean "more customs, more border patrols, more DEA.

What a bully the Bush has become. He seems determined to interfere in everybody else's business. We wish someone would tell him to just butt out.