Pubdate: Sat, 04 Aug 2001 Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2001 The Ottawa Citizen Contact: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326 Author: Michael Petrou Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) DON'T LEGALIZE MARIJUANA, POLICE TELL HEALTH MINISTER Decriminalization Would Increase Drug Use, Crime: Officers Canadian police officers have a message for Health Minister Allan Rock as he contemplates decriminalizing marijuana: Don't do it. On Thursday Mr. Rock said he has an "open mind" on calls to decriminalize or even legalize the drug. But RCMP Chief Supt. Robert Lesser, vice-chair of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police's drug abuse committee, said decriminalization would increase the use of a potentially dangerous substance. "We do not support decriminalization," Chief Supt. Lesser said. "Until we've got some good, solid research so that we know what the effects of cannabis are, for us it would be irresponsible to do anything that would increase the use and supply of cannabis." Chief Supt. Lesser said there has not been enough scientific study into the health effects of marijuana. If research conclusively shows the drug is not harmful, he said the association would consider support for decriminalization. "They could come out and say it's the healthiest thing since red wine. And that's fine. Or they might say this is even worse than tobacco. We've got to know exactly what we're dealing with," he said. Sgt. John Sinfield, who works in the drug unit of the Ottawa Police, said he has seen enough evidence already. "It's another vice. Right now they're spending millions and millions of dollars fighting tobacco and fighting alcohol," he said. "We're not learning from our mistakes. We're just continually adding to them." Sgt. Sinfield said he supports marijuana's legalization for medical reasons. But he said any policy that increases the widespread use of marijuana would lead to more crimes currently associated with alcohol, such as theft, break-ins and impaired driving. "It's an illegal substance that gives an alternative feeling to what reality is about," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager