DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA: RUNCIMAN

Ontario's Law-and-order Minister Adds His Voice To Call For A Softer
Approach To Cannabis Possession

CALGARY -- The political boss for policing in Ontario -- one of Canada's
strongest law-and-order provinces -- is adding his voice to a growing call
to decriminalize marijuana.

Bob Runciman, Ontario's minister of public safety and security, declared
yesterday he doesn't think people should be saddled with a criminal record
if they're caught smoking small amounts of cannabis.

"I'm interested in looking at the whole concept of making minor possession
a ticketable offence so that if anyone has a small amount, they're not
getting a criminal record attached to that," Mr. Runciman said in an
interview at a meeting of federal and provincial justice ministers and
solicitors general.

Mr. Runciman's position makes him an unlikely ally of the federal Liberals,
whom he often opposes on matters of criminal justice.

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon is expected to table legislation in the new
year decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, making it an
offence punishable by a fine rather than a criminal record.

Although the Canadian Police Association fiercely opposes
decriminalization, Mr. Runciman said he has talked to many police officers
who disagree with their organization's position.

"I've talked to a lot of front-line officers who feel badly having to
charge someone for having a couple of cigarettes," Mr. Runciman said.
"Cauchon himself has said he smoked up in his day, so would you like a
criminal record for something like that?"

However, Mr. Runciman has said the country needs stronger judicial
sentencing to crack down on marijuana growing operations. It's a position
he promised to push at this week's meeting of justice ministers.

British Columbia Attorney General Geoff Plant also gave his guarded support
for taking possession of small amounts of marijuana off the criminal record
books.

While Mr. Plant stressed his province has no official position on the
matter, he questioned spending precious police resources going after petty
possession instead of prosecuting more serious drug crimes, such as
targetting marijuana growers who have huge operations that are used to fund
organized crime.

"We need to get resources out of the possession stuff and into the
organized crime stuff," said Mr. Plant.

B.C. already has de facto decriminalization of marijuana because police
virtually turn a blind eye to minor possession, pressing far fewer charges
than anywhere else in the country.

A House of Commons committee, in a report to be tabled later this month, is
expected to recommend decriminalization of marijuana. Mr. Cauchon has said
he is awaiting the all-party report before making a final decision.

Mr. Cauchon is not expected to go as far as a Senate committee, which
recommended in August there should be complete legalization, so that
smokers would not receive any penalty at all.

While Mr. Cauchon received support yesterday from Mr. Runciman, the federal
minister's prospective plans to wipe possession from the criminal record
books could face opposition from several other provincial ministers.

Alberta, which is often on Ontario's side on crime, believes marijuana
possession should remain a criminal offence.

"I believe that the police make a very good argument that marijuana is part
and parcel of organized crime," said Alberta Justice Minister Dave Hancock.
"Secondly it is an entry drug that is intertwined with other drugs. I don't
think we need to add more to the social ills of society."

New Brunswick Solicitor General Margaret-Ann Blaney said she also has
"serious reservations" about decriminalization and Manitoba Justice
Minister Gord MackIntosh said he sees no reason to change the status quo.