Pubdate: Thu, 29 May 2003
Source: Montreal Gazette (CN QU)
Copyright: 2003 The Gazette, a division of Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/274
Author: Alison Hanes

MINISTERS UNEASY ABOUT NEW POT BILL

Fear Return Of Biker Turf Wars

The federal government's new law to decriminalize pot possession has Quebec 
lawmakers fuming that their lengthy war against criminal biker gangs could 
go up in smoke and that teens could let their perceived new freedoms go to 
their heads.

Speaking out yesterday in light of a bill tabled in Ottawa this week that 
would liberalize Canada's marijuana laws, Quebec's public security and 
justice ministers said they fear a resurgence in criminal gang activity as 
demand for drugs spikes and bikers' pockets are lined anew.

"We see a link between the consumption of marijuana and the financing of 
organized crime," said Public Security Minister Jacques Chagnon.

"If the idea is to make possession no longer criminal, the risk is that 
consumption will go up. And when consumption goes up, it's organized crime 
that profits. This is what we must fight."

After years of battling bikers who largely control Quebec's illegal drug 
trade, police were finally starting to make advances with major busts like 
Operation Printemps 2001 and the conviction of kingpins like Hells Angels 
boss Maurice (Mom) Boucher.

Dozens of Quebecers have died in years of turf wars between rival biker 
gangs peddling narcotics and pot.

Farmers have been victims of intimidation by guerrilla cannabis growers, 
who set up shop in fields and threaten landowners who protest.

"We already have a problem of great insecurity on the part of many farmers, 
who see people walking in their fields and planting (cannabis) plants," 
said Chagnon, adding that police are co-ordinating their efforts to crack 
down on the practice this summer.

Quebec's justice and public security ministers said they favour keeping 
drug laws stringent, but giving prosecutors more discretion in pressing 
charges.

The province is even willing to put its money where its mouth is. Justice 
Minister Marc Bellemare announced yesterday that simple possession would be 
added to a Quebec program developed in 1995 that gives prosecutors 
discretionary powers for pursuing cases.

Bellemare said of about 100,000 criminal charges laid in Quebec each year, 
about 5 to 6 per cent are currently dropped under the program.

While he understands the point of the new federal law is to avoid 
stigmatizing respectable citizens and youth with criminal records for 
smoking a joint from time to time, Bellemare said he's not certain that's 
the message youth are hearing.

"Does the fear of stigma not have a dissuasive effect?" he asked.

"What's the difference between drunk driving for an 18-year-old driver and 
smoking and driving? It's very hard for us to detect small amounts of 
marijuana in the blood, so what is the message to young drivers? It's too 
soon to answer, but it certainly doesn't help."

The new federal law proposes wiping possession of fewer than 15 grams of 
pot off the books, fining youth less than adults for possession and 
instituting tougher penalties if caught driving with marijuana.
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