Pubdate: Fri, 19 Sep 2003
Source: Langley Advance (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.langleyadvance.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1248
Authors: Erin McKay and Leanna Jantzi

LAW: MARIJUANA STILL ILLEGAL

Marijuana possession laws are in a state of confusion, but Langley 
residents are advised not to break out their joints just yet.

Technically, the law regarding possession of marijuana has not changed in 
B.C. - or anywhere in Canada.

But one B.C. provincial court judge ruled earlier this week that the 
current anti-marijuana laws are not legal.

Solicitor General Rich Coleman, MLA for Fort Langley-Aldergrove, maintains 
that the law remains in place, and that it is still illegal to possess pot, 
adding that the lower court decision can be appealed.

"It makes headlines, but it's premature," he said of the B.C. judge's 
ruling. "It's not going to be that way for long."

"It's a very temporary euphoria," Coleman said of marijuana advocates' 
celebratory response to the decision, "and we are going to deal with the 
issue."

"The RCMP in B.C. does not charge people with criminal offences," said 
Langley RCMP spokesman Cpl. Dale Carr, adding that it is up to Crown 
Counsel to perform that duty. "We arrest them for breaking the law."

"As far as the RCMP is concerned," he said, "the possession of marijuana is 
still against the law. If anyone is caught with simple possession, the 
marijuana will be seized."

He clarified, "It is against the law to have marijuana on you."

Carr added that officers can use their discretion, and arrest and search 
people found with pot, and forward suggested charges to Crown Counsel. 
However, he said, such cases do not usually end up in court: "If you have a 
single joint, would we seize it? Yes, because you are not allowed to have 
it," he said. "Would it [the case] be prosecuted? Not likely."

Carr said that upholding the law, including the current anti-marijuana law, 
is the police's duty.

Making laws is "not a local government responsibility," Langley Township 
Mayor Kurt Alberts said, "but we have to deal with the consequences."

He said that, whether or not simple possession of pot is made legal, its 
production is not allowed.

"It's very clear that you can't convert a house into a grow op and be 
stealing Hydro," Alberts said.

City Mayor Marlene Grinnell said the B.C. judge's ruling and its subsequent 
media coverage resulted in a lot of confusion.

"Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation out there," she said. "It 
makes people vulnerable if they get the wrong message."

In the next ten days, Coleman will meet with federal and provincial justice 
ministers, and marijuana laws are on the agenda.
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MAP posted-by: Beth