SOME SEE BENEFITS IN POT PLAN: DECRIMINALIZATION URGED FOR MINOR POSSESSION

The executive director of an alcohol and drug addiction program sees
benefits in a proposal to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of
marijuana.

Ian Stewart, executive director of The Halton Alcoholism and Drug Addiction
Program (ADAPT), expects his organization would become much busier if the
federal government agrees with a recommendation by the directors of the
Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police to keep people charged with
possession of small amounts of marijuana from clogging the court system.

Those people could be directed to treatment plans instead.

And Stewart doesn't think kids will rush to use marijuana if it is
decriminalized because "kids today chose to use marijuana and I don't think
the thought races through their head that they shouldn't partake because it
is a criminal offence."

He supports education and treatment, rather than handling possession of
small amounts of marijuana in the courts.

Halton Chief Ean Algar and Hamilton-Wentworth Chief Ken Robertson say police
are not advocating the legalization of any illicit drugs, including the
possession of marijuana. But they both support a recommendation by the
directors of their association -- and endorsed by the Ontario Association of
Chiefs of Police -- to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.

"What we actually recommended was the decriminalization of small amounts of
marijuana and other cannabis derivatives with some provisions," said Algar.
"It will still be illegal to possess, just not criminal (offence) to possess."

Robertson says the proposal does not mean people will be able to openly
possess or use drugs. He points to the current state of drug prosecution as
a problem area.

"They go to court and they get no penalty, not even a slap on the wrist.
They get an unconditional discharge, which means they don't have a criminal
record."

The chiefs believe it is an inappropriate resolution to the situation and
feel it would be better to decriminalize the offence of possession of small
amounts of marijuana. They want money put into prevention,
education and rehabilitation counselling.

"It's a health issue, a community issue and it's a policing issue," Algar
said. "It's something that requires a proactive approach. We are asking the
federal government to co-operate and bring those diversion alternatives
along with it."

Robertson said a person caught with a small amount of cannabis could be sent
to pre-court diversion, which could be a drug education awareness program or
even treatment.

Stewart sees benefits in any diversion-type program.

"If somebody caught with a small amount of marijuana is given a ticket with
the condition of having to go to ADAPT, a lot of people would be coming our
way," Stewart said. "In the past they may have gone through the court system
and never landed on our doorstep.

"Even if the result of having contact with us was a better understanding of
the risks associated with drug use, (it) would be a step in the right
direction. If it was a case of identifying a problem and getting help it
would be a net gain for everybody."

If the proposal is legislated into law by the federal government, anyone
accused of possession of a small amount of marijuana could be given a
ticket. They could sign a guilty statement and pay a fine without having to
be fingerprinted, photographed or forced to go through the court system.

It would mean the accused person would not have a criminal record, but their
names would be on some kind of registry in local data banks.

The plan will be submitted to members for a vote at the police
organization's annual meeting in August.

It was prompted because many marijuana charges processed by police deal with
simple possession. The proposal is meant to clear a backlog of drug cases in
the court system and allow police to concentrate their resources on
investigating more serious crimes.

Stewart says millions of dollars are spent each year on enforcement and in
theory if those costs are eliminated the money for enforcement could be used
for treatment or education.

"I don't know if any new money would be required," he said. "Maybe at the
end of the day we might be further ahead with money saved."

The recommendation doesn't specify what would constitute a small amount, but
currently, possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana is a summary
offence, which doesn't give an individual a criminal record.