POLICE CHIEFS FINALLY COME TO THEIR SENSES

RE "COPS stir up the great pot debate" (April 22): Kudos to the
Association of Canadian Police Chiefs for finally coming to their
collective senses regarding the decriminalization of small amounts of
marijuana.

Their new view contrasts with their opinion at the time Canada's drug
law (the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act) was being debated.

In fact, back then they were one of the few groups opposing the
softening of Canada's marijuana laws. Other groups which argued for a
rethinking of these laws included the Canadian Bar Association, the
Criminal Lawyers Association, the Canadian Police Association, the
Canadian Medical Association, along with policy researchers, addiction
specialists and criminologists.

A 1994 Health Canada study found that 69% of Canadians deemed
marijuana possession to be only worthy of a ticket (rather than a
criminal record). More recently, pollster Angus Reid found in 1997
that 51% of Canadians didn't feel marijuana possession warranted a
criminal sentence, with 83% of us saying the medical use of marijuana
should be completely legal.

The only holdouts to a more rational, economically sensible and
workable drug policy are the federal politicians, who seem to be
afraid to simply reflect the will of most Canadians in changing our
antiquated, costly and ineffectual drug laws.

Dave Haans

(We're surprised they haven't, with all the tax dollars weed sales
could generate)