DRUGS: POT POLICY SLAMMED

Legislation that would allow those caught with 15 grams of marijuana or
less to escape without a criminal record is being harshly criticized by
local politicians.

Marijuana law reform is being criticized locally and across the country.

The Federal Liberals are throwing the door open to greater marijuana use
with little thought to the message sent, said Langley-Abbotsford MP Randy
White.

The proposed threshold of 30 grams being is a far cry from five grams for
non-criminal possession White's Canadian Alliance Party said it would support.

Under the proposed legislation, those caught with 15 grams or less of pot
will receive a ticket, as opposed to a criminal charge. Police will have
discretion to ticket or charge anyone with 15 to 30 grams.

"This bill is a poor excuse for reform of our laws," White said. "We still
need stiffer fines and jail terms for the massive problem of marijuana
grow-ops. Since this bill has not set mandatory minimum sentences, we will
still see penalties given at the discretion of judges."

B.C.'s Solicitor General and local MLA Rich Coleman remains critical of the
reforms. "Does that solve the problem we have? No," Coleman said.

Sentences can be raised, he said, but courts are not enforcing them.

Coleman said he will keep pushing for stiffer penalties and money B.C.
needs to fight drugs and organized crime.

More education and discussion are needed about decriminalization, Coleman
said, but either way, the ramifications of the drug trade will remain: "The
issues are still the same if you have decriminalization or not."

Police nation-wide will watch the proposed legislation closely, said
Canada's top drug fighter, Chief Superintendent Raf Souccar, director
general of drugs and organized crime in Canada.

"We've been in discussion with them throughout, and will continue to voice
our concerns," Souccar told the Langley Advance News from Ottawa.

Police are willing to look at alternatives as long as a national drug
strategy is put into place, he said, adding that the drug strategy
announced by the federal government, along with the reforms, "are a good
first step."

Police would like discretion to pursue criminal charges against those
carrying 15 grams or less in "aggravated" situations, Souccar said, such as
near a schoolyard.

Souccar is also worried about information going to the public, especially
youth: "We're concerned about the messages that [pot is] going to be
legalized. It's still considered to be an offense."

Souccar noted that the sentence for possession of 50 or more marijuana
plants is actually suggested to double to 14 years. He said police are
satisfied with current sentences, but the problem is that the courts
continue to give lenient sentences.

Langley RCMP report that 75 to 100 marijuana grow operation warrants are
executed in the community each year.

Langley's four-officer Green Team has a current caseload of 120 active
files, with 150 waiting.

Per capita, Langley's grow op numbers are in line with other communities,
said Langley RCMP Cpl. Dale Carr, but that doesn't mean the police are
letting up.

The community has spoken "very loudly" that they don't want grow operations
in their neighbourhoods, he said.