CANNABIS REFORM BILL WOULD INCREASE PENALTIES FOR GROWERS

RCMP Superintendent Steve Leach isn't as down on the proposed new pot
laws as some of his counterparts across the country.

The boss of the local RCMP detachment is taking a wait-and-see
approach to the Cannabis Reform Bill, introduced into Parliament last
week.

The real impacts of the new law won't be known for some time, he said.
And a lot of it depends on how the courts interpret and enforce the
law.

The two main parts of the bill work from different ends of the drug
spectrum: it will decriminalize possession of small amounts of
marijuana and hashish, while at the same time imposing stiffer
penalties on those who grow the stuff. Trafficking in drugs will not
be affected by the new bill.

"You have to look at both ends of it," said Leach. "By decriminalizing
it, we hope we're not going to be in a position where these guys are
going to have more customers on the street."

That said, Leach differed from some law enforcement people who have
spoken out against the decriminalization part of the bill.

Under the proposed law, possession of less than 15 grams of marijuana
will become a ticketing offence, much like a speeding fine. It will
come with no criminal record. From 15 to 30 grams, police will have
discretion whether to ticket or charge the person criminally.

Leach suggested police workloads will be reduced under the new scheme.
Currently police rarely lay charges in straight possession cases. But
they still must fill out a significant amount of paperwork. Tickets
might reduce the volume of paper, said Leach.

At the other end, the new regulations governing grow operations "will
help us deal more appropriately on the organized crime end of
investigations," which, said Leach, are the real problem of the drug
trade.

Someone found growing up to three plants will face up to a $5,000 fine
and 12 months in jail. Four to 25 plants would earn a fine of up to
$25,000 and 18 months jail time. Growing 26 to 50 could result in 10
years jail, while having over 50 plants could earn the perpetrator up
to 14 years, double the current maximum.

The RCMP's main immediate concern with the proposed law is the
potential it has for putting more impaired drivers on the road, said
Leach.

There is currently no reliable test for marijuana, as there is for
alcohol. With the decriminalization of small amounts of pot, and the
subsequent potential for a rise in usage, Leach said police are
worried more people will hit the road after smoking a joint.