BILL WILL BOOST CRIME, COPS SAY

Edmonton cops say the federal government's bill to decriminalize marijuana
will fuel organized crime, despite tougher penalties for people caught
growing pot.

"Even with the penalties, it's such a lucrative market," Edmonton police
deputy chief Mike Bradshaw said yesterday.

"It's not mom-and-pop operations that are growing the stuff - it's
organized crime."

The bill to decriminalize marijuana, introduced by Justice Minister Martin
Cauchon yesterday, doubles the maximum jail sentence for illegally growing
marijuana to 14 years. Youths caught with less than 15 grams of marijuana
can be fined up to $250 while adults caught with the same amount can face a
$400 fine. The maximum life sentence for trafficking in pot remains unchanged.

Cauchon and Health Minister Anne McLellan stressed that decriminalization
does not mean legalization.

"Let me be very clear, we do not want Canadians to use marijuana," McLellan
said.

But Bradshaw said decriminalization sends a mixed message and he believes
it will lead to more kids lighting up. "It's going to be hard for police to
say don't do drugs when the government says it's not a crime," Bradshaw said.

Alberta Solicitor General Heather Forsyth told reporters yesterday she also
believes the legislation is contradictory. She said she'll have to find out
more about the bill before the province comes up with details on how to
enforce it.

Forsyth also said she is upset Ottawa didn't do more to get provincial
views before introducing the bill. "To have it rammed down our throats is
not right. It's not fair," she said.

Munir Ahmad, an Edmonton advocate for the medicinal use of marijuana, is
upset the bill includes nothing to help patients with a legal licence to
smoke pot. Ahmad said stronger penalties for growing pot will likely drive
up the price, further pushing control of marijuana production into the
hands of big-time criminals.

"Marijuana's price is determined by the risk of selling it," Ahmad said.
"Those people are interested in profits."

The decriminalization bill will allow police to use their discretion on
whether to issue a ticket or lay a criminal charge for possession of 15 to
30 grams of pot. Government will also have to report to Parliament every
two years on how the drug strategy is working.