Pubdate: Wed, 04 Jun 2003
Source: Standard, The (St. Catharines, CN ON)
Copyright: 2003, The Standard
Contact:  http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/676
Author: Matthew Van Dongen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

NRP SLAMS NEW POT BILL

Proposed Legislation Boon To Grow Operations: Chief

Local News - A federal plan to decriminalize simple marijuana possession 
will lead to more grow houses in Niagara and higher pot usage among local 
youth, Niagara's police chief said Tuesday.

Under legislation introduced by Justice Minister Martin Cauchon May 28, 
possession of up to 15 grams of pot would be a minor offence that carries a 
fine, but no criminal record.

The legislation also proposes stricter penalties for large-scale grow 
operations.

Chief Gary Nicholls said the new bill puts political expediency ahead of 
safety where possession laws are concerned.

"It's my sense there seems to be political motivation to move forward 
fairly quickly with this legislation," said Nicholls.

"They have to allow the necessary support legislation to catch up to the 
bill as it is currently presented."

Nicholls outlined several concerns Niagara Regional Police have with the 
bill as it now stands.

One of these is the effect on schools.

"We expect to see fairly significant issues in schools as a result of 
this," he said. "Our experience suggests young men and women who are prone 
to using this drug will continue to do so ... and the impact will increase 
dramatically."

Nicholls added that more lenient possession laws will "undoubtedly serve to 
drive larger grow operations or perhaps even spawn greater numbers of 
smaller grow operations."

This in turn would strain the police ability to deal with the organized 
crime groups that maintain control over pot supply -- especially back and 
forth across Niagara's four border crossings, he said.

The new legislation also makes enforcement difficult. Nicholls said the 
bill takes a "casual" approach to life-and-death issues, such as 
drug-impaired driving.

Currently, there is no reliable road-side test for "pot impairment." 
Nicholls said the government should delay decriminalization until police 
forces have appropriate "screening technology" to enforce drug offences for 
impaired drivers.

Police across the country also take issue with the suggestion of fines for 
possession. An automatic fine for possession of under 15 grams of pot 
prevents officers from using discretionary powers "in situations that 
demand more serious intervention," said Nicholls. These situations include 
repeat offenders who need treatment or traffickers who deal exclusively in 
small amounts of the drug.

Cauchon has said the government will consult more extensively with the 
nation's police forces before changes are made to Canada's pot laws.