Pubdate: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB) Copyright: 2013 The Edmonton Journal Contact: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor.html Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134 MOVING BEYOND PUFF AND TELL It's time to have an honest and accurate discussion about Canada's marijuana laws when the very people charged with enforcing those laws question their legitimacy. Canada's top cops may have proven themselves distinctly offside with the Harper government on this issue, but they're certainly more in tune with the times. Even if their motivation for liberalizing simple possession laws is driven more by pragmatism than principle, they've done the country a favour by focusing the debate beyond the puff-and-tell affirmations of federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau. The recent Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police annual meeting endorsed issuing tickets rather than pressing criminal charges for possession of a small amount of marijuana. If adopted, this move would save thousands of Canadians from criminal convictions and records that can adversely affect citizenship, jobs and travel. Among those calling for changes to the federal Contraventions Act, so simple possession can be treated like jaywalking or a traffic infraction, was Edmonton Police Chief Rod Knecht. To Knecht's way of thinking, enforcing pot laws is simply not an effective use of police resources, particularly here in a community where crime rates are ascending rather than dropping as they are in other Canadian cities. The police chiefs association cited statistics from 2007 showing that out of more than 100,000 drug offences reported by police that year in Canada, 47,101 were for marijuana possession. With barely half of drug-related cases resulting in convictions, that represents a hugely inefficient drain on the justice system for no conclusive benefit. For those who subscribe to the argument that says if alcohol is legal then marijuana prohibition is absurd, it all speaks to a perversion of justice. Even if that's not your view, this softened enforcement sought by Canada's police chiefs would only codify what is apparently already the working practice of police forces nationwide. And if most officers are already routinely turning a blind eye to a few joints here and there, just how serious is this offence? Predictably, the federal government is maintaining its hardline stance on the matter, with Justice Minister Peter MacKay saying Ottawa has no intention of legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana. "These drugs are illegal because of the harmful effects they have on users - and on society for that matter," he said in all but dismissing the police chiefs' plea. But societal views are shifting on this issue, clearly, both here and in the United States, the principal battleground for the long and futile war on drugs. Most Canadians are not yet ready to follow the lead of states like Washington and Colorado and legalize adult marijuana possession, but a majority seems to be ready for half-measures. A nationwide poll by Ipsos-Reid last summer found two-thirds of Canadians think the law should be changed so that people caught with small amounts of marijuana no longer face criminal penalties or fines. Their police chiefs seem to agree with them. Maybe their government should pay them some heed as well. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom