POLICE SAY LAX POT LAWS WILL UP WORKLOAD

London police believe decriminalization of marijuana will increase, rather
than decrease, their workload.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien has promised legislation within the next few
months to make possession of small amounts of marijuana, likely 30 grams or
so, a minor offence similar to a traffic violation.

But simple marijuana possession independent of other charges is a rarity,
said Deputy Chief Murray Faulkner.

"In Canada, there's less than one possession charge per sworn officer per
year," he said.

"Most possession charges come as a result of an auxiliary incident. You're
arresting someone for a break and enter, a robbery or disturbing the peace
and find marijuana on him, so it gets added to the charges."

Faulkner fears decriminalization will lead to increased use, which will
lead to more crime.

"If there's increased usage, there will definitely be an increased workload
for police," he said. "There will be more related incidents we have to be
involved in: motor vehicle accidents, domestic assaults."

That's partly because "today's marijuana is not the drug of the flower
child era," he said. "In the '70s, the THC content of the drug (its active
ingredient) was two per cent. Today, it's 12 to 25 per cent.

"It's much more potent and, like alcohol, it affects motor abilities for
about 24 hours after it's smoked."

Bill Buchner, a federal prosecutor for Middlesex County, said it's unlikely
decriminalization of simple possession will have a big effect on the court
system here either.

"The impact on the court system in the London area will be relatively
minimal," he said. "We only lay these charges in combination with other
serious matters."

But Croft Michaelson, director of strategic prosecution for the federal
prosecution service, expects decriminalization to reduce the burden on
criminal courts.

"You'll either pay a ticket or contest the matter in a different type of
court," he said.

In 2000, 25,000 people nationwide were charged with simple possession, up
26 per cent from 1996. In London, there were about 560 incidents of simple
possession between May 2002 and May 2003, down from about 600 the previous
year.

"To the extent we can move simple possession cases out of a criminal
justice system that is heavily burdened now and deal with the offences in
another way, it will reduce the caseload," said Croft.

Faulkner wants to see a prevention and education campaign concurrent with
decriminalization.

He's also worried teen drivers, already prone to fatalities, will be affected.

"Watch traffic fatalities soar with the introduction of a mind-altering
drug," he said.

"Does alcohol cause an extra workload for police? You bet."