POLICE LIKE POT-PENALTY PLAN

The Province Vancouver police Chief Bruce Chambers says he's taking a
"serious look" at supporting a plan to decriminalize possession of small
quantities of cannabis products.

The proposal was approved by directors of the Association of Canadian Police
Chiefs last week and is expected to go to a vote by members later this year.

"It sounds like an idea worthy of having a serious look at," Chambers said
yesterday. "I would want to ensure that if this was in fact done, we'd be
doing it in a manner that wouldn't be sending the wrong message to youths --
that drugs are OK."

Under the plan, anyone caught in possession of less than 30 grams of
marijuana or less than one gram of hashish would sign a statement admitting
his guilt. He'd pay a fine without having to go through the court system and
would not have a criminal record. The change would not apply to possession
of heroin.

RCMP spokesman Sgt. Andre Guertin said the Mounties support the plan,
because it would reduce a court backlog and free police to investigate more
serious offences.

Guertin stressed it wouldn't legalize drugs and said the plan would be have
to be implemented in tandem with government initiatives to improve drug
education, counselling and treatment.

"We have scarce police resources. We're trying to target the people
responsible for the illegal importation, distribution or production of these
drugs. So we're targeting up the food chain."

Attorney-General Ujjal Dosanjh said he'll watch the debate closely but he is
"leaning in favour of the status quo" on the issue.

Simon Fraser University criminology professor Neil Boyd said the move
reflects a growing frustration among police in dealing with a situation that
is a public health problem, not a criminal problem. "Just about any Canadian
would rather have police investigating robberies and homicides and sexual
assaults than illegal drug
possession," he said.