MARIJUANA PROPOSAL GOES TO POT

A city committee's scheme to decriminalize marijuana possession in Red Deer
went up in smoke Tuesday.

The policing committee decided it had no business looking at marijuana
decriminalization because it's a federal issue.

'The forum to look at this is at the federal level. I'm not sure the forum
should be in this room,' said Insp. Gilles Guertin, head of the city RCMP.
Under federal law, police officers who arrest pot smokers must go through a
lengthy process that includes weighing the weed and writing a report. The
smoker must then go to court.

It costs police $2,000 to $3,000 to lay a charge of possessing marijuana
and carry out court proceedings.

The committee believed the RCMP could save money by handing out fines to
those caught with 30 grams or less of marijuana.

But committee member Mary Parker said she was concerned decriminalizing
marijuana possession would send a message that it's OK to use the drug as
long as you pay the fine.

'We want our police process to be more efficient, but let's find a way to
do it without sacrificing some key societal issues.'

Guertin said police officers currently have the power to recommend the
courts impose a fine for minor marijuana possession.

Committee members stressed they didn't favour more lax marijuana laws, but
simply wanted to create a more efficient police force.

City Councillor Bill Hull, who proposed decriminalization, appeared to back
down.

Hull said if marijuana leads to use of stronger drugs, perhaps penalties
should be harsher.

'Obviously there are a lot of implications and areas impacted that are
beyond this committee's mandate,' Hull concluded.