FANTINO BACKS NEW APPROACH FOR POT CASES

Small Busts Can Be Kept Out Of Court, Chief Says

A new direction for drug policy endorsed by Canada's police chiefs, which
would keep users of small amounts of marijuana out of the courts, is also
being supported by Toronto's chief, Julian Fantino.

Handling minor pot possession charges outside the courts through other
methods such as ticketing would free up the resources of the police and the
legal system to focus on to more significant issues, Fantino said over the
weekend.

"I'm not talking about legalizing, that's not the issue. We're talking
about decriminalizing the process, and finding alternative ways to deal
with this particular issue."

Fantino, interviewed after addressing an association of black police
officers Saturday night, would not say whether minor marijuana offenders
would still receive a criminal record under such a system.

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police has suggested that marijuana
offences involving 30 grams or less - which already needn't involve
fingerprinting - can be dealt with using alternative methods outside the
courts, such as ticketing. The results for offenders could include
counselling, fine or community service.

"It would still be a criminal offence but processed in a different way,"
Fantino said. "The federal government has already been talking about it.
The federal health minister has already been talking about it, so I would
suspect it's on the agenda at the political level."

Fantino's endorsement of this new approach comes at a time when Toronto's
police force is cracking down on other drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine,
notably in the city's rave culture.

"One has nothing to do with the other," Fantino said.

"I'm talking about strictly cannabis, not other (drug) material."

The chiefs' association has only considered hashish and marijuana for
decriminalization, Fantino said.