LAW: MARIJUANA STILL ILLEGAL

Marijuana possession laws are in a state of confusion, but Langley
residents are advised not to break out their joints just yet.

Technically, the law regarding possession of marijuana has not changed in
B.C. - or anywhere in Canada.

But one B.C. provincial court judge ruled earlier this week that the
current anti-marijuana laws are not legal.

Solicitor General Rich Coleman, MLA for Fort Langley-Aldergrove, maintains
that the law remains in place, and that it is still illegal to possess pot,
adding that the lower court decision can be appealed.

"It makes headlines, but it's premature," he said of the B.C. judge's
ruling. "It's not going to be that way for long."

"It's a very temporary euphoria," Coleman said of marijuana advocates'
celebratory response to the decision, "and we are going to deal with the
issue."

"The RCMP in B.C. does not charge people with criminal offences," said
Langley RCMP spokesman Cpl. Dale Carr, adding that it is up to Crown
Counsel to perform that duty. "We arrest them for breaking the law."

"As far as the RCMP is concerned," he said, "the possession of marijuana is
still against the law. If anyone is caught with simple possession, the
marijuana will be seized."

He clarified, "It is against the law to have marijuana on you."

Carr added that officers can use their discretion, and arrest and search
people found with pot, and forward suggested charges to Crown Counsel.
However, he said, such cases do not usually end up in court: "If you have a
single joint, would we seize it? Yes, because you are not allowed to have
it," he said. "Would it [the case] be prosecuted? Not likely."

Carr said that upholding the law, including the current anti-marijuana law,
is the police's duty.

Making laws is "not a local government responsibility," Langley Township
Mayor Kurt Alberts said, "but we have to deal with the consequences."

He said that, whether or not simple possession of pot is made legal, its
production is not allowed.

"It's very clear that you can't convert a house into a grow op and be
stealing Hydro," Alberts said.

City Mayor Marlene Grinnell said the B.C. judge's ruling and its subsequent
media coverage resulted in a lot of confusion.

"Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation out there," she said. "It
makes people vulnerable if they get the wrong message."

In the next ten days, Coleman will meet with federal and provincial justice
ministers, and marijuana laws are on the agenda.