KEEP MARIJUANA ILLEGAL, POLICE CHIEF URGES

Professor Accuses Top Toronto Officer of Misleading Senate Committee

TORONTO -- The chief of Toronto's police told a Senate committee yesterday
that he is in favour of decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of
marijuana.

However, Julian Fantino said he stands with the Canadian Association of
Chiefs of Police "in firm opposition to any type of legalization of any and
all current illicit drugs."

Chief Fantino told the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs that
narcotics, including marijuana, are the "staple commodities" of organized
crime in the country. He cautioned the senators against regarding marijuana
as a "soft drug."

Describing drug traffickers as "ruthless people," he called for the Senate
to pass Bill C-24, which would give police increased powers to fight
organized crime.

Chief Fantino said there is an urgent need for more resources directed at
very young people to educate them about the dangers of substance abuse.

He firmly rejected any suggestion that legalization is an answer to
fighting the war on drugs.

"It's a total cop-out," said Chief Fantino.

"We may as well fly the white flag of surrender on all issues. Why have a
speed limit? It just doesn't work that way."

"This is an orderly, sophisticated, world-leading society," the police
chief said.

While Chief Fantino agreed that diversion programs or fines are a better
use of scarce resources to deal with possession of minute amounts of
marijuana, he said he will not tell his officers to stop laying charges in
these cases, if appropriate.

"I am not about to set policy on this issue," said Chief Fantino.

That isn't good enough for Alan Young, a York University law professor and
an outspoken advocate for the legalization of marijuana, who also appeared
yesterday before the Senate committee.

"The police have enormous power and influence in Ottawa," said Mr. Young.

"So if they truly believed in small-scale decriminalization, which they've
been saying for 20 years, let's see some action now."

Mr. Young accused Chief Fantino of spreading misinformation.

"I hear things that simply don't make sense," said Mr. Young. He noted that
the police chief suggested he had come across deaths linked to marijuana
use. "Marijuana use has never in the recorded history of time been the
direct cause of a death," said Mr. Young.

The law professor also took issue with Chief Fantino's suggestion that
high-grade Canadian marijuana is selling for nearly $30,000 a pound in the
United States.

The actual price is about $3,000 a pound., said Mr. Young. "Chief Fantino
knows that. His officers testify to that fact in court."

According to Mr. Young, "public officials control information. That's why
it is a sacred trust that they give accurate information."

However, Mr. Young suggested that police have a "vested economic interest"
in keeping marijuana illegal because a large percentage of their budgets
involve drug investigations.

Mr. Young urged the Senate committee to do more than write a final report
about the possible decriminalization of marijuana.

He said there already have been endless reports, including the Ledain
commission, which recommended 30 years ago to permit the simple possession
of marijuana.

"Don't let Parliament stickhandle their way out of this," Mr. Young said.

The Senate committee is scheduled to release its final recommendations by
next August.