Pubdate: Thu, 22 Aug 2013
Source: Surrey Leader (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Surrey Leader
Contact:  http://www.surreyleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1236
Author: Jeff Nagel

POT CRUSADER SAYS NO TO MARIJUANA TICKETS

Proposal from police signals shift toward cannabis reform, says SFU
professor

A recommendation to let police treat simple marijuana possession as a
ticketing offence is being opposed by the head of a provincial
campaign to decriminalize pot.

Dana Larsen, whose group Sensible BC is set to kick off a petition
campaign next month to force a referendum on marijuana policy, says
the new resolution from the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
is counter-productive.

The chiefs' association argues the option of writing tickets to punish
people caught with less than 30 grams of marijuana would be less
costly and time-intensive than sending criminal charges through the
courts.

"It's a bad idea," Larsen said. "It's actually going to result in more
cannabis users being persecuted."

He said police in B.C. issue warnings or write reports on 18,000
people a year for use of marijuana without laying charges.

"They would all get tickets under that new system," Larsen
predicted.

He said the proposal could confuse B.C. voters as canvassers prepare
to ask them to sign a petition that would press for a referendum on a
proposed law blocking use of B.C. police resources for enforcing
simple possession.

"Our solution does not involve fines or alternative penalties, it
involves leaving people alone."

If Ottawa embraced broader legislative reform, he added, it should
simply legalize pot.

"I'd rather see revenue generated through legalization, regulation and
taxation rather than fining the people who happen to be unlucky enough
to get caught by police," he said.

Larsen noted ticket-empowered police would still have the ability to
charge some pot users, raising questions about potential selective
enforcement.

The federal government, which would have to change federal legislation
to enable marijuana ticketing, indicated it has no plans to legalize
or decriminalize pot possession.

Vancouver Police Chief Const. Jim Chu, president of the Canadian
Association of Chiefs of Police, said the organization does not
support cannabis decriminalization or legalization.

Chu said police now must either turn a blind eye or lay charges when
they encounter pot use, and ticketing would offer a new, more
effective enforcement option.

The chiefs also say pot users who are ticketed for simple possession
would avoid a criminal record that can block them from international
travel, getting a job or gaining citizenship.

SFU criminology professor Rob Gordon called the resolution a
significant shift that indicates police across the country - not just
in B.C. - are ready for reform.

"It's the thin edge of the wedge, it's the beginning of a move away
from the criminal enforcement approach," Gordon said.

He said Sensible BC campaigners are pushing for change too fast and
said ticketing would be part of a more gradual move to alter public
thinking and government policy.

"When marijuana policy is normalized, I think we'll look back at this
period and say this is when the process began for the shift from
criminalization towards regulation and taxation," Gordon said.

"If you go slowly, you can help people shift their thinking from their
current belief that marijuana use is some sort of demonic activity to
recognizing it as just another recreational drug that does minimal
harm and the sky will not fall."

He said he wouldn't be surprised if B.C. liquor stores sell pot within
five years.

Although Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been firmly against
marijuana reform, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau's call for change this
summer in B.C. re-ignited the issue.

Gordon said Harper won't be able to ignore the chiefs' resolution,
although he might send it to a committee for a lengthy period of study.

He said there are signs even Harper is positioning his government for
a pivot on the issue, noting the recent cabinet shuffle saw the
departure of several law-and-order hardliners, including former Public
Safety Minister Vic Toews.

A B.C. justice ministry spokesperson said police in B.C. must enforce
the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act as it now stands and
any changes to the legislation would be up to Ottawa.

Petition campaigners have 1,000 canvassers

Meanwhile, Sensible BC's Dana Larsen said 1,000 canvassers are
registered so far to collect signatures starting Sept. 9.

He said he hopes to have at least 2,000 in place by that date and to
gain more - the group has a target of 5,000 - as the marijuana
decriminalization campaign gathers steam.

They'll have 90 days to collect signatures from 10 per cent of
registered provincial voters in each of B.C.'s 85 electoral districts.

Larsen said the Fight HST campaign had 3,000 canvassers in place at
the outset and got another 2,000 to 3,000 in the ensuing weeks.

"I'm cautiously optimistic," he said.

No groups opposing the initiative registered with Elections BC by an
Aug. 12 deadline.

Had a group done so it would have had a spending limit of
approximately $1 million to counter Sensible BC. Groups and
individuals can still sponsor advertising for and against the
petition, but will be subject to a $5,000 limit.
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MAP posted-by: Matt