Pubdate: Tue, 05 Nov 2002
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002 The Ottawa Citizen
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Janice Tibbetts, The Ottawa Citizen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Martin+Cauchon (Cauchon, Justice 
Minister)

DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA: RUNCIMAN

Ontario's Law-and-order Minister Adds His Voice To Call For A Softer 
Approach To Cannabis Possession

CALGARY -- The political boss for policing in Ontario -- one of Canada's 
strongest law-and-order provinces -- is adding his voice to a growing call 
to decriminalize marijuana.

Bob Runciman, Ontario's minister of public safety and security, declared 
yesterday he doesn't think people should be saddled with a criminal record 
if they're caught smoking small amounts of cannabis.

"I'm interested in looking at the whole concept of making minor possession 
a ticketable offence so that if anyone has a small amount, they're not 
getting a criminal record attached to that," Mr. Runciman said in an 
interview at a meeting of federal and provincial justice ministers and 
solicitors general.

Mr. Runciman's position makes him an unlikely ally of the federal Liberals, 
whom he often opposes on matters of criminal justice.

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon is expected to table legislation in the new 
year decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, making it an 
offence punishable by a fine rather than a criminal record.

Although the Canadian Police Association fiercely opposes 
decriminalization, Mr. Runciman said he has talked to many police officers 
who disagree with their organization's position.

"I've talked to a lot of front-line officers who feel badly having to 
charge someone for having a couple of cigarettes," Mr. Runciman said. 
"Cauchon himself has said he smoked up in his day, so would you like a 
criminal record for something like that?"

However, Mr. Runciman has said the country needs stronger judicial 
sentencing to crack down on marijuana growing operations. It's a position 
he promised to push at this week's meeting of justice ministers.

British Columbia Attorney General Geoff Plant also gave his guarded support 
for taking possession of small amounts of marijuana off the criminal record 
books.

While Mr. Plant stressed his province has no official position on the 
matter, he questioned spending precious police resources going after petty 
possession instead of prosecuting more serious drug crimes, such as 
targetting marijuana growers who have huge operations that are used to fund 
organized crime.

"We need to get resources out of the possession stuff and into the 
organized crime stuff," said Mr. Plant.

B.C. already has de facto decriminalization of marijuana because police 
virtually turn a blind eye to minor possession, pressing far fewer charges 
than anywhere else in the country.

A House of Commons committee, in a report to be tabled later this month, is 
expected to recommend decriminalization of marijuana. Mr. Cauchon has said 
he is awaiting the all-party report before making a final decision.

Mr. Cauchon is not expected to go as far as a Senate committee, which 
recommended in August there should be complete legalization, so that 
smokers would not receive any penalty at all.

While Mr. Cauchon received support yesterday from Mr. Runciman, the federal 
minister's prospective plans to wipe possession from the criminal record 
books could face opposition from several other provincial ministers.

Alberta, which is often on Ontario's side on crime, believes marijuana 
possession should remain a criminal offence.

"I believe that the police make a very good argument that marijuana is part 
and parcel of organized crime," said Alberta Justice Minister Dave Hancock. 
"Secondly it is an entry drug that is intertwined with other drugs. I don't 
think we need to add more to the social ills of society."

New Brunswick Solicitor General Margaret-Ann Blaney said she also has 
"serious reservations" about decriminalization and Manitoba Justice 
Minister Gord MackIntosh said he sees no reason to change the status quo.
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