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