Pubdate: Sat, 24 Aug 2013
Source: Recorder & Times, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 Recorder and Times
Contact: http://www.recorder.ca/letters
Website: http://www.recorder.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2216
Author: Alanah Duffy

'LEEWAY' ON POT POSITIVE: CHIEF

Brockville's chief of police is supportive of a motion that would see 
fines, rather than criminal charges, given to people in possession of 
small amounts of marijuana.

At a meeting this week in Winnipeg, the Canadian Association of 
Chiefs of Police discussed changes to Canada's drug laws, including 
giving police officers the ability to ticket people found with 30 
grams or less of marijuana. Currently, police officers can use their 
discretion whether or not to lay charges under the Criminal Code.

Brockville Police Service Chief John Gardiner, who attended the 
meeting, said moving in such a direction is positive for police 
forces across the country.

"I think marijuana should remain criminal and a federal offence, but 
I think having the leeway for officers to be able to write a ticket 
to someone and fine them for a small amount is another tool in our 
toolbox," said Gardiner. "I think that's a positive thing." Gardiner 
said he does not support the legalization of marijuana.

With the call put forward by the Canadian Associations of Chiefs of 
Police, police officers would be given the option of criminally 
charging someone caught with small amounts of marijuana or issuing a 
ticket similar to Liquor Licence Act tickets. "It would be like 
writing a ticket. It may be a different type of ticket," said Gardiner.

"In my mind, it's at the officer's discretion if they went this route 
with the ticket or if they went another route."

The federal government has the final say on whether to make this law.

Craig Matthews, an employee at Puffalot Brockville, a Perth Street 
store selling paraphernalia related to marijuana, said a move like 
this would be beneficial to both police officers and marijuana users.

"It gives the police more tools," Matthews said.

Matthews said he supports the decriminalization of marijuana, but not 
legalization.

Legalization would drive the price up and change the quality of the 
drug, he said.

"When the government gets involved with anything, it gets more 
expensive," Matthews said.

The current system of having criminal charges for minor marijuana 
offences is both time consuming and expensive, Gardiner said.

In a press release, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police said 
the current method is a burden on the judicial system and having 
tickets would make the courts more efficient.

"It's time-consuming and it costs money to process things like that," 
said Gardiner.

"Obviously, if there's a way to reduce that and give the officers the 
discretion to go another route, then that's a positive thing."
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