Pubdate: Tue, 13 May 2003 Source: Medicine Hat News (CN AB) Copyright: 2003 Alberta Newspaper Group, Inc. Contact: http://www.medicinehatnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1833 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) TOP COPS FIRED UP LETHBRIDGE, Alta. (CP) -- Alberta police chiefs meeting in Lethbridge this week aren't fans of a looser pot possession law proposed by the federal government. "We are absolutely against decriminalization," said Camrose police Chief Marshall Chalmers, president of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police. "We believe it's absolutely sending the wrong message." Lethbridge police are co-hosting the three-day conference, which brings together top officers from the province's seven municipal and tribal police services as well as RCMP officials. Alberta Solicitor General Heather Forsyth is scheduled to address the chiefs Wednesday evening. Decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana is just one of dozens of issues expected to be discussed during the conference that begins on Tuesday. Medicine Hat Police Chief Normand Boucher has previously spoken up against the move to decriminalization, sentiments that were echoed by Chalmers on Monday. "The Liberals seem to be hell-bent on this issue, and we don't have to agree with it," Chalmers said. Last weekend federal Health Minister Anne McLellan gave qualified support for forthcoming federal legislation expected to decriminalize possession of marijuana in amounts less than 15 grams. She said such a move must be accompanied by a new national drug strategy of education, information and treatment. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager