POT POSSESSION TICKETS A HALF-BAKED IDEA: MP

'It will confuse a lot of people'

Edmonton Liberal MP David Kilgour is warning Canada's police chiefs risk
sending out the wrong message when they talk about ticketing pot users
instead of taking them to court.

The Canadian Association of Police Chiefs is proposing ticketing people
caught instead of taking them to court as a more flexible approach to drug
enforcement, which will ease pressure on the justice system.

Brockville Police Chief Barry King insisted that the move was not the same
thing as legalizing cannabis.

But Kilgour, MP for Edmonton Southeast said the chiefs should be very
careful about any proposal which might lessen the seriousness of cannabis
use.

"I think many people could see this proposal as saying just that," said
Kilgour.

"It will confuse a lot of people."

Kilgour recently wrote an article in the Edmonton Bar Association Bulletin
condemning any move towards decriminalizing "soft" drugs such as marijuana.

He said the distinction between "soft" and "hard" drugs was artificial.

"Marijuana is not harmless," he declared.

"A 1994 study found that marijuana and its derivatives were detected in 276
drivers killed on Canadian roads.

"Marijuana is seven times as powerful now than it was in the 1960s and some
derivatives as 25 times stronger."

In the article Kilgour argued that although fear of arrest for pot
possession was not a serious deterrent, it was a reminder that society would
not tolerate drugs.

He said drug awareness education had a key role to play in tackling
Edmonton's drug problem.

"The choices between (drug) supply reduction and demand reduction, or
between enforcement and public health approaches are not mutually
exclusive," he wrote.

"A balanced approach is the 'least worst' one.

"At this point we must not throw up our hands in surrender, but instead
maintain a firm commitment to face this serious and growing threat on all
fronts."