POT POSSESSION PLUS

Brockville, Ont. -- The subheadline of Demographics Cited As Crime Rate
Drops Again (July 19), read, "But drug charges, especially involving pot,
prove to be one of big exceptions to overall decline."

Why pick on pot? Statistics can be misleading. Police do not target those
who possess minor quantities of marijuana for personal use. A recent study
conducted in Ottawa by RCMP analysts showed that more than 90 per cent of
marijuana-related offences were secondary charges to more serious primary
charges of trafficking, possession of other drugs, weapons offences,
impaired driving, court breaches and motor-vehicle infractions.

Chief Barry King

Brockville (Ont.) Police Service, Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police