BERRIGAN PLEASED POT LAW REINSTATED

Local News - North Bay police will resume laying charges for possession of
even small amounts of marijuana, following a court ruling Tuesday.

The Court of Appeal for Ontario sealed a legal loophole opened in January
that had rendered Canada's marijuana-possession laws virtually
unenforceable.

For the past few months, police across Canada have not been charging people
for possessing small amounts of marijuana because the law didn't exist.

"On a personal level I'm really happy that the law was reinstated,
especially when it comes to addressing impaired driving," said North Bay
Police Chief George Berrigan.

"It's difficult for officers to detect marijuana specifically when taken
with small amounts of alcohol," he said.

A clear distinction was made by the court between illegal possession of
marijuana for social and recreational use and possession for medical use
provided that proper and legal exceptions have been obtained.

Berrigan said since that time police services have been given a "bum rap"
when it comes to charging someone for simple possession.

"Were not targeting the person who possesses one or two grams," he said.

"Most charges of simple possession happen because the person is involved in
other things."

"Were not targeting the person who possesses one or two grams," he said.

"Most charges of simple possession happen because the person is involved in
other things."

The court upheld an earlier Ontario Superior Court ruling that found
patients who qualified under the program were unfairly restricted in
obtaining a safe, legal supply of the drug.

A three-judge panel addressed and revised specific provisions of the federal
Marijuana Medical Access Regulations.

The provisions restricted licensed growers from receiving compensation for
their product, growing the drug for more than one qualified patient and
pooling resources with other licensed producers.

It also struck down the requirement that sick people are to get two doctors
to validate their need to use marijuana as a drug.