POUNCING ON POT BILL

Proposal Seriously Flawed, Say Top Cops, MADD

OTTAWA -- Canadian police chiefs and officers yesterday joined forces
with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to demand the federal government
dump its proposed law to decriminalize possession of small amounts of
pot. "There are too many serious flaws in this bill and the approach
advocated by the government to deal with the plague of marijuana is
altogether heading in the wrong direction," said Tony Cannavino,
president of the Canadian Professional Police Association.

Cannavino said one of the biggest problems with the proposed new law,
Bill C-38, is it fails to give police the ability to decide whether or
not to lay a charge or issue a ticket.

Under the proposed law the feds are seeking to decriminalize
possession of 15 grams of pot. Those caught with that amount will be
issued a ticket but cannot be charged with a criminal offence.

"It does not meet the needs of police officers ... there is no minimal
sentence whatsoever. The minimal sentences are essential if we want
people to understand the gravity of the indictable offence," said
Cannavino before testifying at a special Commons committee conducting
hearings on the proposed bill.

MADD executive director Andrew Murie said passing the bill is
premature because police don't yet have the tools to combat toking and
driving.

"Loosening cannabis possession laws without having drug-impaired
driving measures in place is a recipe for trouble on our roads," Murie
said.