Pubdate: Fri, 02 May 2014 Source: Standard, The (St. Catharines, CN ON) Copyright: 2014 St. Catharines Standard Contact: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/letters Website: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/676 Author: Rob Houle Page: A2 COUNCIL SUPPORTS CHIEFS' POT STANCE Top cops say tickets should be option over charges for simple possession Niagara Region councillors threw their support behind a police chiefs' request that officers be given the discretion to issue tickets to people caught with a small amount of marijuana. Current federal law dictates police officers lay charges against someone caught with any amount of pot. At its meeting in Winnipeg in August, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police decided to ask the minister of justice and attorney general to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act to allow officers discretion to issue a ticket to those caught with 30 grams or less of pot. The chiefs cite the fact someone found guilty for simple possession under current legislation will have a criminal record, but will more than likely only have to pay a fine. The chiefs say charges can result in lengthy court processes that remove officers from the street, putting a strain on resources. St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullan's motion to support the chiefs of police request was deferred at regional council March 20 pending receipt of the Niagara Regional Police Services position on the matter. In their council packages Thursday, councillors received a letter from NRP Chief Jeff McGuire, who said as a member of the CACP he supports the motion adopted by the association. McMullan re-introduced the motion that council endorse the position of the CACP. "I think we recognize =C2=85 how challenged our police forces, including our Niagara Regional Police, are in terms of resources, and the fact the chiefs of police have taken a sound, rational, responsible position with respect to marijuana legislation," McMullan said. "If the average age of t his elected body was a little bit younger than it is, I'm sure this would go a lot further than it does today," he added jokingly. Fort Erie Coun. John Teal spoke three separate times on the matter, twice t o express concern the motion was endorsing the decriminalization of marijuana. "I'm stuck on this point about issuing tickets," Teal said. "If you give an officer the option of issuing a ticket as a discretionary option to laying formal charges pursuant to the Act, isn't that decriminalizing it?" Teal later said the argument that simple possession charges put a strain on police resources "should be irrelevant." "The law is the law," he said. "The enforcement of the law is the obligation of the police. That should not depend on whether their resources are strained or not strained. The law is the law, it should be enforced, period." Councillors voted 19- 5 t o endorse the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police's position, which has not garnered the support of the federal government. - ------------------------------------ [sidebar] HOW THEY VOTED In support of Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police recommendation they be able to give tickets rather than lay a charge for possession of small amounts of pot: Brian Heit, Dave Lepp, Doug Martin, Vance Badawey, Bill Hodgson, Selina Volpatti, Debbie Zimmerman, Ted Luciani, Brian Baty, Dan Fortier, David Barrick, Dave Augustyn, Bob Bentley, Bruce Timms, April Jeffs, Barry Sharpe, Jim Diodati, Tim Rigby, Brian McMullan. Opposed: John Teal, Andy Petrowski, Doug Joyner, Dave Eke, Mark Bylsma. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt