Pubdate: Sat, 22 Sep 2001 Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC) Copyright: 2001 Hacker Press Ltd. Contact: http://www.abbynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155 Author: Trudy Beyak Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) NO COURT FOR POT BUSTS? First-time offenders in Abbotsford charged with possession of marijuana may avoid facing a courtroom if a "marijuana diversion" program goes ahead. The Canadian Department of Justice offered Abbotsford the option of being one of four pilot project sites in B.C. to offer a diversion program. The police board approved the proposal, but further discussions with the Department of Justice and Crown Counsel will occur before the program starts in Abbotsford. Deputy Chief Paul Tinsley said he welcomes a systematic approach to the diversion program. This would give police officers the option of charging first-time offenders with a criminal offence or sending them to the diversion program, said Tinsley. The program - working with the Elizabeth Fry Society - would divert offenders to do community work, for example, and educate them about the health risks associated with using marijuana, said Tinsley. He noted that this would not be an option for offenders charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. In addition, the offender must have no previous record, or be charged while on school property or driving. Other cities offered the choice to have a diversion program are: Surrey, Sydney and Vancouver (North Shore). If successful, the program may be expanded across B.C. The Department of Justice also proposed to expand the diversion program to deal with other drugs - but the Abbotsford Police opposes that concept. "What would that include? Cocaine? Heroin? I think the community has a right to have input on whether to extend the program to include other drugs," said Tinsley, adding that he doesn't think the public would support it. He noted that the number of people in Abbotsford charged with simple possession of marijuana is relatively low. In fact, the number of drug charges has dropped by 54 per cent in Abbotsford during the past year, according to the latest police board statistical report (June 2001). There were 218 charges under the Controlled Drug Substances Act this year compared to 473 for the same time period in 2000. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl