Pubdate: Thu, 25 Dec 2003 Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC) Copyright: 2003 Hacker Press Ltd. Contact: http://www.abbynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155 Author: Russ Akins Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Tim+Felger Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Randy+White Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/John+Conroy POT LAWS CONSTITUTIONAL Federal laws making possession of small amounts of marijuana illegal do not violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canada's top court has ruled. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled 6-3 Tuesday that jailing someone with small amounts is constitutional. Any changes to the law must be made by Parliament, the decision states. However, local marijuana activist Tim Felger said keeping the status quo means more money will be wasted on pot busts, money he believes is better spent in areas such as improving the national infrastructure. On the other side of the issue, Langley-Abbotsford (Canadian Alliance) MP Randy White vows to table legislation in the House, calling for "more teeth" to proceeds of crime laws, especially when it comes to grow-ops and crystal meth labs. Felger, who intends to seek the nomination for the federal New Democrats in the expected spring federal election, told the Abbotsford News "the CIA is making money off drug prohibition. "Forget the arguments about what it is doing to society -- the real problem is, we're wasting all our resources," said Felger, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in the last civic election. He said the recent earthquake in California shows the need for billions in cash on hand to repair and improve buildings, roads and other infrastructure. "The police budget takes up 25 per cent of the city of Abbotsford budget. I don't understand why people don't become more tolerant. "I was hoping to find relief in the courts," he said, adding "the police have no moral courage and politicians are self-serving. "My whole goal in January is to educate the local media on what prohibition really is - a money machine." White expects a parliamentary committee on the non-medical use of drugs to be re-constituted in the New Year. "What amazes me is that while the Supreme Court comes down with a decision, there's all kinds of provincial courts making the opposite decision," he said. "They should follow the law. The law has always said it is illegal." White said he will push for "a re-look at this whole marijuana law and put greater emphasis on (seizing) the proceeds of crime," to help police bust grow ops and meth labs. Both pot and meth operations result in major property damage, White believes. "The money or assets seized from convicted drug traffickers must be kept out of the hands of judges and lawyers. "Recently a judge gave $400,000 in cash back to the dealers, saying the Crown couldn't prove it was received illegally." The Supreme Court decision comes as Ottawa prepares to reintroduce legislation that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Three marijuana users, including two from B.C., had challenged sections of the country's Narcotics Act that makes possession a criminal offence. Lawyers, including Abbotsford's John Conroy, argued that the government has no right to tell people what they can put in their bodies. But lawyers for the federal government argued the law should be upheld and that Parliament should set federal drug policy. Prime Minister Paul Martin said last week that the government will reintroduce a marijuana bill that died in November when Parliament was prorogued. The bill would decriminalize pot, which means people caught with small amounts would face fines rather than prison. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake