PROPOSED POT LAWS RECEIVE MIXED REVIEWS

A proposed new Canadian marijuana law is getting mixed reviews in Durham
Region.

Doug Cavanaugh, president of the 900-member Durham Regional Police
Association, says that legislation being planned by Ottawa that will turn
simple possession of marijuana into a non-criminal offense are troubling to
many of his members.

"I am worried about what kind of a mixed message is going out with this,"
Mr. Cavanaugh said. "We in the association have always been pretty clear
that we are not in favour of this. There are many infrastructure issues to
be dealt with, not the least of which is how we handle impaired operation
of a motor vehicle where marijuana may be involved."

Currently in Canada, the ability to prosecute persons for impaired driving
where marijuana is believed to be a factor is difficult at best, according
to some front-line police officers. One officer who deals on a regular
basis with drug and youth complaints -- who asked not to be named because
of the sensitive nature of his work -- told The Star that, "As a police
officer I will enforce the laws of Canada the way I am told to do so by the
Criminal Code.

"Having said that, I am worried that decriminalizing marijuana may, at
worst, make young people think it is somehow now acceptable and, at best,
send a mixed message to them about drugs in general," the officer said.

There is a little upside though, according to the veteran street cop.

"Under the new legislation, if I understand it correctly, the maximum fines
for first-time offenders may well be higher then many of those penalties
currently being levied by the courts," the officer said. "I hope some of
those funds find their way back into police budgets for fighting hard drug
dealers."

Durham MP Alex Shepherd told The Star he is "supportive" of the move to
decriminalize simple possession.

"It will free up police to deal with drug issues of distribution and is
reflective of the public's views," Mr. Shepherd said.

Durham MPP John O'Toole told The Star that moving the marijuana possession
offenses to the realm of provincial offenses has a mixed meaning to him.

"The people who are calling my office are against this," Mr. O'Toole said.
"But, they are against it because they think this is a legalization and, in
fairness, it is not. Having said that, I see the federal government
legalizing another substance shown to be harmful to health while we are
dealing with the issues surrounding tobacco."

Mr. O'Toole said the public, "should have played a larger role in the
decision process."