Pubdate: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 Source: Era, The (CN ON, Newmarket) Copyright: Metroland 2014 Contact: http://www.yorkregion.com/newmarket-on/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2678 Page: A6 MARIJUANA VIEWS SHOW SHIFT Does someone caught smoking marijuana on a street corner deserve a criminal record? An increasing number of police chiefs in this country, as evidenced by a recent proposal from the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, say no. York Regional Police Chief Eric Jolliffe agrees with his fellow chiefs and suggests a less heavy-handed approach ought to be considered for minor marijuana offences, such as someone possessing 30 grams of the substance or about 40 joints. For an amount of that size, mere marijuana users would be slapped with a ticket, rather than in handcuffs, similar to how people found drinking in a public park are treated. That said, the region's top cop makes it clear he's not advocating decriminalization or legalization of the drug. He goes on to state the view that illicit cannabis use has a negative impact on society and youth. The proposal will decrease the burden on the criminal justice system and reduce the time officers must spend in court for "relatively minor offences", he said. It will allow officers to use discretion on a case-by-case basis, he said, which is "more efficient and makes good common sense". Jolliffe's comments, and those of the association, reflect a shift in viewpoint spurred by an influx of research on the subject, suggesting marijuana users should not be dragged through the judicial system. It's an encouraging development especially when one considers the so-called war on drugs in the U.S. has been, by virtually all accounts, an abject failure, with skyrocketing costs and prison overcrowding standing as its only results. The Federal Bureau of Prisons reports nearly half of those behind bars in the U.S. are locked up for drug offences, with marijuana convictions typically accounting for the lion's share. What's more, a rising number of people, federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau among them, agree the drug should be legalized entirely. Trudeau has stated he's in favour of the government taxing and regulating the substance, similar to the step Colorado and Washington State took Jan. 1. A national survey of 3,000 Canadians, commissioned by the Justice Department, demonstrated about two-thirds of respondents want the laws around marijuana relaxed, although a majority say they don't want to see the substance packaged and sold like alcohol and cigarettes. More than 37 per cent say they want legalization, 33.4 per cent are in favour of decriminalization, while just 13.7 per cent and 12 per cent are in favour of the status quo or enacting stronger laws, respectively. Conservative House Leader and York-Simcoe MP Peter Van Loan says Ottawa will mull over the chiefs' proposal, while his colleague, Oak Ridges-Markham MP Paul Calandra, describes himself as undecided on the issue, but notes some gradual changes to medical marijuana policy has raised the option of decriminalizing small amounts. Calandra says some officers would welcome added discretion. One thing's for certain, the federal Conservative government isn't doing itself any favours with its tactic of taking pot shots at Trudeau on the subject and behaving as though their marijuana policy stems from a screening of Reefer Madness. Too often, government rhetoric veers into the realm of the ridiculous with unsubstantiated claims about negative impacts to society and families, which seem all the more absurd when you consider Colorado and Washington are not only doing fine, but also earning revenue and, according to some reports, witnessing declining crime rates. Ontario could use all the revenue it can get. If nothing else, it sounds like a shift in the right direction. BOTTOM LINE: Government rhetoric must not cloud real issue of new marijuana policy. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom