MIXED REACTION TO NEW POT LAW

Nanaimo MPs continue to oppose decriminalization of small amounts of
marijuana, even as police say they support reforming Canada's cannabis laws.

New federal legislation tabled by the federal government last week will
bolster police efforts to fight criminally-controlled marijuana grow ops,
says Const. Jack Eubank, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman.

"There's a lot of positive steps being taken lately with this new
legislation =AD a lot of it will help with fighting organized crime," Eubank
says.

"Sentences will be tougher for large-scale production of marijuana, and in
our view that's a positive step forward."

Nanaimo RCMP formed a special "green team" just to deal with marijuana
growing operations popping up in recent years.

Police hope doubling maximum jail sentences to 15 years will deter growers,
who support outlaw motorcycle gangs, and other criminal elements that trade
the drugs for cash, cocaine and guns.

"But ultimately the new legislation has to be interpreted by a judge, and
it's going to be a slow process," Eubank says.

Nanaimo-Cowichan Alliance MP Reed Elley echoes his party's reservations
about the bill.

Under the new legislation, police will issue voluntary payment fines, like
parking tickets, worth up to $150 =AD $100 for youths =AD caught with less
than 15 grams of pot.

"We think it's thrown open the door to even greater use of marijuana in
Canada," Elley says.

Nanaimo-Alberni MP James Lunney says it's a double standard.

"We're spending half a billion dollars to stop people from smoking
cigarettes, now they're prepared to spend another quarter billion to
convince people of the evils of marijuana, while they're loosening up
deterrence to make it more available," Lunney says.

"It's a study in contradictions."

But Mark Russell, operator of the Parksville branch of the Cannabis Buyers
Club of Canada, wants government regulation and distribution of the drug,
like liquor or tobacco.

The organization provides pot for cancer patients and others with medical
exemptions to criminal anti-marijuana laws.

"It won't work. If you want to get rid of the crime, work for some form of
regulated distribution," Russell says. "The only thing prohibition does is
drive the product underground and up the price."