Pubdate: Fri, 13 Dec 2002
Source: Midland Mirror (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002 Midland Mirror
Contact:  http://www.simcoe.com/sc/midland/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2211
Author: Frank Matys

MARIJUANA DEBATE GETS SPARKED UP

A proposed mellowing of Canadian marijuana laws has sparked a heated debate 
between friends and foes of the illicit weed. "It's encouraging that they 
are talking about it, but I still say we need full legalization," said 
long-time cannabis advocate Ron McInnes.

The recommendation that possession of small amounts of pot no longer result 
in criminal charges was among several released Thursday by a Special 
Parliamentary Committee tasked with studying illegal drugs.

It comes just days after federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon hinted 
that his government may introduce legislation to decriminalize pot early in 
the new year.

For its part, the parliamentary committee recommends that possession of 
less than 30 grams no longer be considered a criminal offence. Instead, 
police would hand out tickets with offenders simply paying a fine.

McInnes served four months in jail after being convicted of possession and 
other charges following an elaborate raid on his home-based business 
several years ago.

A local purveyor of pipes, rolling papers and bongs, he reopened his 
infamous Pot Shop the day after his probationary period ended.

While viewing Thursday's announcement as a step in the right direction, 
McInnes said it falls short of the mark.

"I don't think decriminalization is the proper thing to do, it should be 
legal," he said, adding that the resulting fines could prove to be "a cash 
cow."

If Ottawa is looking for support from the law enforcement community, it 
won't find it in the front-line officers whose job it is to ferret out 
fields of "grass" each summer, said OPP Det. Supt. Jim Hutchinson, director 
of drug enforcement for the OPP.

"I don't see any benefit for the community or for policing either," 
Hutchinson told The Mirror. "Some studies suggest marijuana is harmless, 
but we do not believe that is so.

"As far as policing goes, it becomes another drug out there that people 
have the ability to be impaired by, and so that affects students studying 
in our schools, it affects people who are operating expensive machinery in 
our factories, and it affects people who are driving cars."

Hutchinson does support efforts to stem the use of drugs like marijuana, 
but staunchly opposes any move that would lead to a softening of penalties 
for possession, saying it impairs motivation, judgment and perception.

"We are for prevention, education and the rehabilitation of drug users," he 
said. "To simply allow a person to pay a ticket and a fine is almost like 
licensing. It does not go towards a decrease in the use of drugs. In fact, 
it will probably make drugs more available."

He also said that any move to dilute pot laws could undo the years of 
progress police have made in reducing incidents of impaired driving through 
enforcement efforts and public education campaigns.

Without the means to test drivers suspected of being high, officers' hands 
are tied, he said.

"We don't have the equipment or legislation in place to deal with people 
who are impaired by marijuana."

According to Hutchinson, the recent liberalization of marijuana laws to 
accommodate those with chronic illnesses has already landed some officers 
in a legal quagmire as they are confronted with situations in which the ill 
are using their special status to supply others with pot.

"It is an enforcement problem in dealing with quantities, with people who 
are growing it legally and giving it to those who are not allowed to have 
it," he said.

Neither does Hutchinson believe decriminalization of marijuana would 
free-up resources to deal with so-called "harder" drugs, as has been 
suggested by some.

"We are only talking about simple possession, so certainly our past 
position would be if laws like that would change, they would also have to 
put more money into education, rehabilitation, and also increase 
enforcement on grow houses, commercial trafficking and the production of 
illicit drugs, and give us a stronger position to deal with those issues," 
he said.

At Queen's Park, the call for decriminalization was given a 
less-than-enthusiastic reception, with Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop 
reporting that his government isn't about to support relaxed drug laws.

At least not at a time when the province is fighting to bring about changes 
to what it claims is an overly lenient Young Offenders Act, an ineffective 
gun registry and cushy federal prisons.

"It's all about justice and law and order, and they think we shouldn't be 
weakening a law on marijuana when there are all these other issues 
outstanding," he said.

Though opposed to outright legalization, Dunlop's personal belief is that 
decriminalization does have merit.

"Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with it, because I grew up in an era 
when a lot of people smoked pot and it hasn't ruined their lives."

Among the report's other recommendations is a call for prevention and 
education programs, the creation of a drug commissioner and $3 million in 
federal funding annually for the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.

Trafficking in the drug would remain a crime.

In the past, Justice Minister Cauchon has expressed doubts about the 
effectiveness of current drug laws, noting a conviction for drug possession 
results in a criminal record and can lead to a person being barred from 
professional certification, or from travelling to the U.S.
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