Pubdate: Wed, 28 May 2003 Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.fyiottawa.com/ottsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329 Author: Matt Wood, Ottawa Sun Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) DRUG'S FANS, FOES UNITED IN OPPOSITION Concerns about drug-impaired drivers, law enforcement and government policies surfaced yesterday after the tabling of proposed federal legislation to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. "Our reaction was profound disappointment," said David Griffin, executive officer with the Canadian Police Association. The association's concerns include impaired driving, grow operations, prevention campaigns and relations with the U.S. Soft Sentences Griffin said when he speaks to officers working on the front lines against drug trafficking and grow operations, they say soft jail sentences aren't doing the job. Mike Foster, owner of Crosstown Traffic, a paraphernalia store that caters to the cannabis community, said he hopes the bill fails because while it acknowledges that many people smoke pot, it doesn't permit cultivation for personal use. "I think it's a piece of garbage," he said, adding the issue will hinge on how police enforce it as well as how courts interpret it. MADD Canada was also unhappy with the announcement, but for different reasons, demanding laws which allow police to deal with drug-impaired driving. 'Rampant' Use "Drug use is rampant among youth," said Andrew Murie, MADD Canada's executive director. He said teens have gotten the message about drinking and driving, but they know police don't have the power to apprehend drug-impaired drivers. "This is the worst government policy decision I've ever seen." Rick Reimer, a marijuana decriminalization proponent, practised law until he was forced to retire due to illness. He has a medical exemption to use marijuana from Health Canada. "I'm grateful for the recognition that marijuana ought not to be treated as such a problem, that decriminalization denotes a change in that philosophy," he said. "But the way they're going about it is completely backwards. How can you increase demand by reducing penalties and then at the same time restrict the supply routes? It's so stupid." - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl