News (Media Awareness Project) - CN ON: Windsor Leads Way On Legal Pot |
| Title: | CN ON: Windsor Leads Way On Legal Pot |
| Published On: | 2003-05-22 |
| Source: | Detroit Free Press (MI) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-20 06:54:50 |
WINDSOR LEADS WAY ON LEGAL POT
Rest Of Canada May Also Allow Some Use
Windsor -- A judge has ruled that possession of up to 30 grams of
marijuana is legal in Detroit's wide-open neighbor to the south. But
Windsor is not yet Amsterdam, and if you're thinking of crossing the border
to toke on a joint along Ouellete Avenue, think again: Windsor police say
they will continue to enforce long-standing drug laws despite the judge's
ruling.
"Everything will be done the same way we've been doing it -- people will be
arrested if they are caught with marijuana," said Sgt. Kevin Trudell of the
Windsor Police drug investigation unit.
The ruling last week in Windsor by Superior Court Justice Steven Rogin was
the most recent development surrounding drug policy in Canada, which is
softening its approach to narcotics, treating abuse more as an illness than
as a law-enforcement issue.
Such moves differ sharply from the zero-tolerance philosophy adopted by the
United States, and U.S. officials have protested Prime Minister Jean
Chretien's plan to introduce legislation to decriminalize small amounts of
marijuana in Canada.
Rogin ruled Friday that possessing a little more than an ounce of marijuana
is not against the law in Ontario. Rogin said there is no Canadian criminal
law or penalty that specifically relates to marijuana.
He would not comment to the Free Press.
Experts in Canada say Rogin's ruling most likely will be followed by lower
court judges, who usually preside over marijuana possession cases.
Police fear hundreds of drug cases will now be dismissed. Many had been
delayed as judges awaited Rogin's decision.
Brian McAllister, the Windsor lawyer who had challenged the law, was quoted
as saying in the Windsor Star that Rogin's ruling "effectively erased the
criminal prohibition on marijuana possession from the law books in Ontario."
Rogin's decision is likely to be appealed.
Trudell said Canadian officials now must take a stand. "The government is
going to have to step up and make a decision and stop sitting on the fence."
Rest Of Canada May Also Allow Some Use
Windsor -- A judge has ruled that possession of up to 30 grams of
marijuana is legal in Detroit's wide-open neighbor to the south. But
Windsor is not yet Amsterdam, and if you're thinking of crossing the border
to toke on a joint along Ouellete Avenue, think again: Windsor police say
they will continue to enforce long-standing drug laws despite the judge's
ruling.
"Everything will be done the same way we've been doing it -- people will be
arrested if they are caught with marijuana," said Sgt. Kevin Trudell of the
Windsor Police drug investigation unit.
The ruling last week in Windsor by Superior Court Justice Steven Rogin was
the most recent development surrounding drug policy in Canada, which is
softening its approach to narcotics, treating abuse more as an illness than
as a law-enforcement issue.
Such moves differ sharply from the zero-tolerance philosophy adopted by the
United States, and U.S. officials have protested Prime Minister Jean
Chretien's plan to introduce legislation to decriminalize small amounts of
marijuana in Canada.
Rogin ruled Friday that possessing a little more than an ounce of marijuana
is not against the law in Ontario. Rogin said there is no Canadian criminal
law or penalty that specifically relates to marijuana.
He would not comment to the Free Press.
Experts in Canada say Rogin's ruling most likely will be followed by lower
court judges, who usually preside over marijuana possession cases.
Police fear hundreds of drug cases will now be dismissed. Many had been
delayed as judges awaited Rogin's decision.
Brian McAllister, the Windsor lawyer who had challenged the law, was quoted
as saying in the Windsor Star that Rogin's ruling "effectively erased the
criminal prohibition on marijuana possession from the law books in Ontario."
Rogin's decision is likely to be appealed.
Trudell said Canadian officials now must take a stand. "The government is
going to have to step up and make a decision and stop sitting on the fence."
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