POT LAWS HAVEN'T CHANGED: RCMP

Don't expect police to turn a blind eye to marijuana possession now
that a B.C. judge has struck down the pot-possession law.

Const. Beth Blackburn of the Nanaimo RCMP's drug awareness section
says police officers still regard simple possession as an offence.

And she says the Sept. 4 ruling by New Westminster provincial court
Judge Patrick Chen doesn't change the RCMP's approach to the issue.

"Our job is to enforce the laws that are there and to protect the
community and public safety, so we will continue to do that," says
Blackburn.

"And with that, simple possession is still looked at (in law) as a
criminal offence and we will continue to investigate that and forward
charges where we deem necessary."

Blackburn is concerned the ruling adds another layer of confusion to
an issue that has already divided Canadians.

Marijuana advocates say the B.C. ruling vindicates them and affirms
their belief that simple possession is OK.

But police are worried the wrong message is getting
out.

"We're giving so many mixed messages to people," says
Blackburn.

"It makes it difficult for them to make an informed decision. You've
got people giving them proper information and then things like this
seem to pop up.

"It's difficult because people put their own twists on things, and
what happens is they make bad choices based on lack of
information."

B.C. is the fourth province in which a judge has ruled in favour of a
person accused of pot possession. The first province was Ontario,
which struck down the law in 2000 in its appeal court. Prince Edward
Island and Nova Scotia have since followed suit.