MARIJUANA BILL SPARKS LIVELY DEBATE AMONG MEMBERS OF POLICE BOARD

The Canadian Association of Police Boards won't hear from the Delta
police board on the federal government's plans to change marijuana
laws.

In a rousing debate rarely seen at the monthly police board meetings,
last Thursday the majority of members refused a request from their
national association to make comment on a set of recommendations on
Bill C-17, more commonly known as the Cannabis Reform Bill.

Board member Sean Hodgins wanted the report and draft recommendations
received for information without comment, even though the national
association wanted feedback by the end of this month.

Hodgins and fellow board member Ken Thornicroft argued the request for
endorsement and feedback was not within the purview or governance
structure of police boards.

"We're not hear to debate things that are properly debated in the
Parliament of Canada," Hodgins said.

Thornicroft agreed: "It's ultimately a political call. It seems
outside our jurisdiction."

Board member Deirdre Severide said while she appreciated what fellow
board members had to say, she felt the national association's concerns
did fall within their mandate at the local level.

"I am prepared to support the recommendations. I do feel it leads
toward policy which is in our purview," she said.

The association listed four draft recommendations to be heard at
committee hearings on the bill, including concerns that funding for
the National Drug Strategy, announced at $245 million over five years,
was inadequate and fell short of the Liberal Red Book promise of $420
million over four years.

The remaining three recommendations included:

- - Allowing police discretion to charge or ticket in all categories of
possession, not just in cases of possession over 15 grams of
marijuana, as is stated in the proposed bill.

- - The association disagrees with the limits guiding personal use
versus commercial use (trafficking) without more research or a stated
rationale for those limits.

- - While the association supports the government's drug impaired
driving legislation, changes should not be made to the marijuana laws
until police have the proper tools necessary to ensure the effective
prosecution of drug impaired driving charges.

Hodgins and Thornicroft took exception to Mayor Lois Jackson's
comments that the majority of Canadians, especially Deltans who have
had so much trouble with indoor marijuana grow-ops, were not
necessarily in favour of weakened marijuana laws. As mayor, Jackson is
also chair of the police board.

"I disagree. Those statements are highly debatable. I don't think as a
board we should be taking a position of support," Thornicroft said,
adding the jury was still out on whether marijuana laws should be
treated as a health issue or criminal issue.

"It's a divisive issue. I'm not so sure I agree fully with everything
that's in here," Hodgins echoed.

Both agreed indoor marijuana grow-ops were a huge community concern,
but changing federal drug laws simply wasn't a matter for a local
police board.

Two board members, Ray Carter and Robin Hill, said they felt
endorsement of the recommendations was "redundant" because they had
previously endorsed the national association's position on the federal
government's first bill introduced two years ago.

The new bill is different from the previous one, including a change in
cultivation sentences. Previously, the fine for one to three pot
plants was to be a summary conviction with a fine set at $5,000 or 12
months in jail. Under the new legislation, it has been reduced to a
$500 fine for adults and a $250 fine for youth.

While board member Rahim Dadani voted with the majority, he did not
comment publicly.

Jackson said she was disappointed with the decision.

"It's an opportunity for small areas like ourselves to have the
ability to influence legislation," she said.

Saying she was "surprised" by the board's stand, Jackson will write to
the national association stating the Delta police board "received the
report for information only."