Pubdate: Wed, 30 Jul 2003
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2003 Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Siri Agrell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

TORONTO POLICE WILL TAKE MARIJUANA AT NO CHARGE

'Dump It Or Go Elsewhere': Concert-Goers Who Smuggle It In Will Be
Asked To Hand It Over

TORONTO - This morning, up to 450,000 people are expected to stream
through the gates of Downsview Park, where they will be searched by
one of 1,500 private security guards before gaining access to the
Rolling Stones concert.

If they are carrying marijuana, they will be presented with a plastic
container and two options -- tunes or tokes.

"They have a choice to make," Toronto Police Chief Julian Fantino
said. "They can dump it or they can take it with them and go elsewhere."

There will be a zero-tolerance marijuana policy in effect, and
concert-goers who choose tunes must dump their stash in plastic bins
brought in specifically for gathering the contraband.

After the show, police will dispose of the marijuana.

"We're just asking people not to bring it at all," said Constable
Shehara Valles, a Toronto police spokeswoman. "We think everyone can
have a good time and do without."

While security guards will staff the gates, 1,300 police officers will
be patrolling the grounds throughout the day, keeping an eye out for
successful smugglers, Const. Valles said.

Anyone found smoking marijuana will be asked to hand it over, but will
not be charged, in line with the department's new policy announced
this summer.

On June 5, Chief Fantino said his officers would stop laying charges
for simple possession of marijuana. Under the change in policy, the
police began recording the names of anyone found in possession of less
than 30 grams of marijuana -- about one ounce -- and document the
seizure, recording names and the circumstances.

Const. Valles said no such information would be recorded at the
concert, unless the amount of drugs confiscated warrants further
investigation.

The decision to relax police response to possession cases followed
what Chief Fantino called "government inaction" and court decisions
that left them wondering "whether simple possession of marijuana is an
offence at all."

He pointed to a May 16 decision by Ontario Superior Court Justice
Steven Rogin, who upheld a lower court decision to quash a charge
against a youth for possessing less than 30 grams of marijuana because
the law is no longer valid.

The Toronto Police decision came on the heels of Ottawa's announced
intention to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Martin Cauchon, the Justice Minister, introduced a bill in May that
would reduce the penalties for those found with less than 15 grams of
marijuana.

Canadians younger than 18 who are caught with less than 15 grams of
marijuana would receive $100 fines and adults would be ticketed $150.
Fines would increase to $250 for youths and $400 for adults for
possession while driving, committing an offence or being caught in or
near a school.

Police estimated 15 grams is the equivalent of 15 to 30 cigarettes,
depending on how they are rolled.

"Let me be clear from the beginning, we are not legalizing marijuana
and we have no plans to do so," said Mr. Cauchon at the time.

The Justice Minister said he hopes the legislation will be passed by
the end of the year. 
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin