Pubdate: Sat, 07 Sep 2002
Source: Sentinel Review (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002 Annex Publishing & Printing Inc.
Contact:  http://www.annexweb.com/sentinel
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2385
Author: Lee Berthiaume
Note: Canadian Press cited as additional source.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Martin Cauchon (Cauchon, Martin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/walters.htm (Walters, John)

LOCAL POLICE BLAST POT STUDY

Legalizing Marijuana Would Only Create More Problems, Say Forces

WOODSTOCK -- Oxford County's two largest police forces are strongly opposed 
to a Senate committee recommendation that marijuana be legalized, saying it 
wouldn't solve any real problems and would actually create new ones.

Both Oxford Community Police Chief Ron Fraser and OPP Staff-Sgt. Dennis 
Edlington said there are still problems associated with alcohol and tobacco 
even though they are legal.

"I don't think it's an appropriate legislation," Fraser said yesterday. "My 
belief is that it is an addictive drug, just like alcohol. And just like 
alcohol, it is the stem of certain criminal activities. I don't think 
legalizing it is going to eliminate those activities."

According to OPP headquarters, the force's official position is opposed to 
legalizing the drug but not to more lenient penalties for possession of 
smaller quantities.

Both said they believed illegal growing operations would continue. With 
growers able to make up to $1 million a year from one operation, they feel 
it would be difficult for legal distributors to undercut those who aren't 
being taxed.

"The government has turned a problem into a source of revenue," Edlington 
said. "They've turned a blind eye to all the problems surrounding 
(legalizing marijuana)."

Edlington was worried about the potential impaired drivers who would be 
hitting the streets stoned.

"If they're driving under the influence, how do we measure it?" he asked. 
"With marijuana we don't have a device to measure it."

The two also questioned what kind of message legalizing marijuana would 
send to children since anti-drug messages are a huge part of their 
educational efforts.

Fraser also felt that the government would be sending mixed messages if it 
decided to adopt the recommendation because it would be undermining its 
continuous efforts to cut down on cigarette smoking, especially amongst kids.

Edlington said it wouldn't be long until kids who are hanging around street 
corners smoking cigarettes during school hours would be smoking pot.

"It'll be in our schools," he warned.

Both agreed that their respective forces would continue anti-drug 
operations until ordered to stop.

"It isn't law yet," Fraser said. "We will carry on until the legislation we 
use to enter residences, search people and make arrests is removed."

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon addressed the issue Thursday, saying 
decriminalizing marijuana might be a "first step" in reforming drug laws 
which seem out of date, though he stopped short of advocating legalization.

The marijuana law needs to be changed, he said, and decriminalization - 
which would let people possess and use small quantities of cannabis without 
facing a criminal record - is a logical option.

"I feel that there is a strong support. I feel that the population is 
there," he said. "To keep it the way it is now doesn't make any sense to me 
in the year 2002. The legislation in place is sort of disconnected with 
Canadian reality."

Cauchon's musing didn't sit well with Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen 
Harper, who told reporters he'd rather see his kids drinking booze than 
smoking pot.

Harper, father of a three-year-old girl and five-year-old boy, said he 
doesn't buy the argument that alcohol is more harmful than marijuana.

"As a parent, I would be more concerned about pot use than alcohol use by 
my children, even in moderation," said Harper, an asthmatic who has never 
smoked.

Cauchon said he'll have a new policy ready early next year, but first he 
wants to see the report of a Commons committee which has been studying the 
issue of illicit drugs. That report is expected in November.

The United States disagrees with the Senate report's findings that cannabis 
is less harmful than alcohol and causes few, if any, long-term problems.

John Walters, director of the U.S. national drug control policy, disputed 
those findings in a statement Wednesday: "We know that marijuana is a 
harmful drug, particularly for young people."

Cauchon said he hasn't had any reaction from Washington on the issue and 
said he wouldn't be swayed by American policies.

"I'll do what's good for Canadian society."
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