COPS SAY FEDS SENDING MIXED POT MESSAGE

The federal government is sending a "mixed message" by doubling the maximum
penalty for anyone convicted of growing marijuana for purposes of
trafficking while decriminalizing possession of small amounts of pot, says a
top cop.

"That doesn't send a mixed message, does it?" said Edmonton Staff Sgt. Peter
Ratcliff, president of the Edmonton Police Association.

"Police officers, in general, figure that thing is going way, way, way too
fast, the whole decriminalization thing. It's almost like they're catering
to a certain, very small percentage of the people out there who are actively
smoking pot."

The feds plan to introduce a law increasing the maximum penalty for illegal
pot growers to 14 years. The act would also make possession of under 15
grams of marijuana a non-criminal offence punishable by a fine of $150 for
adults. If the offender possesses between 15 and 30 grams, police would
decide whether to issue a ticket or lay a criminal charge. Possession of
over 30 grams would be a criminal offence.

"They haven't given this a whole lot of thought," Ratcliff said, adding the
police association hasn't been consulted on the new pot bill. "They haven't
thought about all of the other social implications .. the impaired driving,
what do you do if a guy is smoking up at work?"

Det. Clayton Sach of the city police drug control section "Green Team"
agreed the feds are sending a mixed message but said he'd like to crack down
on growers who make profits.

"You're telling people you can consume it but how can you consume it if you
can't get it?" said Sach.

Sgt. Chris Hayden of the Edmonton Police Service, said the chief - and
Canadian Association of Police Chiefs - disagree with decriminalizing
marijuana. "But they do support a national drug strategy, which is in fact
prevention and education," said Hayden.

"Anything that can give us more teeth in the enforcement angle for the
people that cultivate for the purpose of trafficking, we would definitely
support."

The bill is expected to be introduced after Parliament returns after May 26.