FOX PROMISES ZERO TOLERANCE FOR POT POSSESSION

BORDEN-CARLETON--Borden-Carleton Police Chief Jamie Fox has promised a
zero-tolerance approach for persons charged with simple possession of a
drug substance following a provincial court case in Summerside in which a
19-year-old Island man's marijuana possession charge was stayed, after
precedents set in Ontario court cases.

Fox said his officers have been instructed to apply as many charges as
possible to anyone who is found with drugs in their possession.

For instance, in the past, if a motorist was pulled over by police after
speeding or travelling through a Stop Sign and a small quantity of
marijuana and hashish was found, only the more serious charge - possession
of that drug, would be laid.

Not any more, according to Fox. Now every possible charge, including
provincial Highway Traffic Act charges, will be laid, he vowed. That could
include such things charges related to unsafe mechanical maintenance, said Fox.

No charges will be overlooked in a bid to keep Borden-Carleton's streets
safe from so-called "impaired" drivers, driving under the influence of
mind-altering substances, he said.

Fox said even passenger smoking up in a car's back seat could have a
harmful effect on a driver's judgement.

Friday Judge Ralph C. Thompson explained in his 11-page decision an Ontario
Court of Appeal ruling known as the Parker decision effectively struck down
the law that prohibits simple possession.

Thompson said it wouldn't be fair to prosecute the man when 12 million
Ontarians have immunity to similar charges.

But Fox called Friday's court decision, "wrong" and said it should be
immediately appealed.

In a news release, he stated his department will continue to lay charges
under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act as if those charges were
valid charges under the Act.

"This is an important health issue and further involves basic public
safety, the smoking of any substances is harmful is harmful to our health,
the smoking of cannibis is 500 times worse," he stated.

"Drinking and driving has been proven to kill innocent people, the smoking
of cannabis also affects the mind and reactions of people, now put this
person behind the wheel of a car, shake the dice and let's see what happens."

Cpl. Ken Murray, of the Island RCMP's drug awareness section, says the RCMP
will continue to lay possession charges under the Act until told to do
otherwise.

"It's business as usual," he said.