Pubdate: Tue, 22 Jul 2003
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/TorontoSun/home.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Tom Godfrey, Toronto Sun
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

RCMP STILL IN POT BIZ

Charges For Simple Possession

Pearson airport drug cops say they won't follow Toronto police's lead and 
not charge travellers entering the country with small amounts of marijuana. 
The RCMP and Canada Customs officials said yesterday they'll continue 
laying smuggling charges against travellers with less than 30 grams of pot 
until Parliament rules to decriminalize marijuana.

"There are ongoing discussions to determine if we will lay charges for 
small amounts of marijuana in the future," Const. Howard Adams said.

Adams said charges for small amounts of pot will be laid and prosecuted 
until his force receives further notice.

"Things are subject to change," he said. "We will be prosecuting as normal 
until then."

Toronto police have stopped laying charges for amounts of pot under 30 
grams due to May's Superior Court ruling striking down the law on simple 
possession.

Toronto cops will document incidents in case charges are to be laid afterwards.

Customs spokesman Sam Papadopoulos said a bulletin was sent to officers 
nationwide last week reminding them to seize and hold for police those 
found with drugs.

"Until the law changes, we will continue to apply the laws at the border," 
Papadopoulos said.

The Mounties and Customs lay hundreds of charges a year for small amounts 
of marijuana at Canada's airports, seaports and land borders.

The suspects are charged for importing a controlled substance and thrown in 
jail until freed on bail. They are then red-flagged by Customs for 
secondary checks.

Under the proposed decriminalization of marijuana, the maximum fine for 15 
grams or less of pot would range from $100 to $250 for those under 18, $150 
to $400 for adults.

The issue is expected to be decided by Parliament sometime this year.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager