CHIEFS' IDEA AN OLD ONE

Re PoIice chiefs urge move to decriminalize 'pot' (April 22). The
Canadian Police Chiefs board of directors has dusted off an old, 1980,
bad chestnut of Bob Kaplan, then solicitor-general, by suggesting that
marijuana possession be dealt with by using a traffic ticket approach,
for 30 grams (enough for 100 joints) of marijuana. This approach makes
even less sense now than in 1980.

It would be perceived by youth to be tantamount to
legalization.

It would increase impaired driving problems. Instead, the chiefs
should be lobbying for a cross-Canada implementation of diversion programs.

Fred Burford
Council on Drug Abuse Toronto