MAKE A DECISION ON POT: POLICE CHIEF TO FEDS

Having patience with Canadian pot laws is becoming an all too common virtue
for Peterborough police Chief Terry McLaren.

The federal Liberal government is once again taking a crack at
decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of pot. This argument has
been ongoing for more than a year.

"If they are going to decriminalize it, decriminalize it," says Chief McLaren.

"It'd be nice to have a decision one way or another so we can get on with it."

Last year the local force stopped charging people with possessing less than
30 grams of pot. That decision was based on the courts, which decided it
wasn't an offence to possess anything less than that amount.

However, a higher court later ruled that simple possession was an offence
and since, local officers have been busting people with simple possession
charges.

That local decision won't change, says Chief McLaren, while politicians
debate the controversial pot law.

The issue has been one big yo-yo that MP Peter Adams says will soon be over.

"The Alliance (party) is dead set against it, but there's a general
agreement (in the House of Commons) that the current system isn't working,"
adds MP Adams.

"I'm optimistic the bill will pass."

He says the Liberals have reintroduced Bill C-17, a bill that died when the
federal election was called. The government has added some new things to
it, he explains, mainly surrounding education and prevention.

The criminal penalty for possessing more pot, as well as for grow
operations, will also increase, if the bill passes.

As it is now, MP Adams says more and more people possessing marijuana are
walking away scotfree when caught by police. He suggests officers don't
have the time to make arrests related to simple possession. With the new
law officers will issue tickets, as opposed to the current practice of
laying criminal charges, and that is expected to result in less officer time.

Chief McLaren says the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police supports the
decriminalizing of pot, adding anything would be better than legalizing the
drug. If approved, Chief McLaren says forces will look to the government to
help pay for specialized training to detect what drug a person has used.

In addition, Chief McLaren says it will be hard for officers to determine
how much pot a person may possess. He adds officers might need weigh scales
to determine how much pot a person is carrying to ensure that police are
not laying fines when they should be laying criminal charges.

He also suggests revenue generated from such fines be put towards the
training and tools needed to uphold the law.

"Revenue is federal; it's not a provincial offence," says Chief McLaren.

"And I don't know where the revenue is going."

MP Adams admits there's been no discussion in the House of Commons about
revenue generated from pot fines. He says the Liberals have already
committed to spending money on prevention.

"It would go to general revenues. It's up to police to say where the money
is spent," adds MP Adams.

"I hope it helps police, and in my opinion, if (officers) need weigh
scales, they each will get one."