RCMP STILL IN POT BIZ

Charges For Simple Possession

Pearson airport drug cops say they won't follow Toronto police's lead and
not charge travellers entering the country with small amounts of marijuana.
The RCMP and Canada Customs officials said yesterday they'll continue
laying smuggling charges against travellers with less than 30 grams of pot
until Parliament rules to decriminalize marijuana.

"There are ongoing discussions to determine if we will lay charges for
small amounts of marijuana in the future," Const. Howard Adams said.

Adams said charges for small amounts of pot will be laid and prosecuted
until his force receives further notice.

"Things are subject to change," he said. "We will be prosecuting as normal
until then."

Toronto police have stopped laying charges for amounts of pot under 30
grams due to May's Superior Court ruling striking down the law on simple
possession.

Toronto cops will document incidents in case charges are to be laid afterwards.

Customs spokesman Sam Papadopoulos said a bulletin was sent to officers
nationwide last week reminding them to seize and hold for police those
found with drugs.

"Until the law changes, we will continue to apply the laws at the border,"
Papadopoulos said.

The Mounties and Customs lay hundreds of charges a year for small amounts
of marijuana at Canada's airports, seaports and land borders.

The suspects are charged for importing a controlled substance and thrown in
jail until freed on bail. They are then red-flagged by Customs for
secondary checks.

Under the proposed decriminalization of marijuana, the maximum fine for 15
grams or less of pot would range from $100 to $250 for those under 18, $150
to $400 for adults.

The issue is expected to be decided by Parliament sometime this year.