COPS NOT HIGH ON DECRIMINALIZING POT

Kelowna RCMP are against decriminalizing pot, but they don't usually pursue
simple possession cases.

Police are not enthusiastic about all the paperwork required when they
catch someone with small amounts of marijuana, says RCMP Cpl. Terry McLachlan.

Five years ago, a pot smoker walking down the street would be arrested on
the spot. Now, officers are more likely to seize the joint and send him on
his way if he has a clean record.

"It's considered small potatoes," McLachlan said Wednesday. "(Police) won't
necessarily lay charges. They'll seize what they have on them and submit a
report for disposal."

Federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon says Ottawa could bring in
legislation early in the new year to decriminalize pot use. Possession
would remain illegal, but the punishment would be a fine rather than a
criminal record.

The new law wouldn't make a dent in B.C.'s marijuana supply because growers
still have a viable market in the U.S., said McLachlan. He estimates
three-quarters of the pot grown in the Central Okanagan and the rest of the
province is shipped south of the border because growers make bigger profits
there.

"They use more airplanes to transport it down. They'll fly under the radar,
pop up, and go to uncontrolled airports in the U.S. Or they'll fly over and
do bag drops and fly back to Canada," he said.

Decriminalization would lighten the workload for police by streamlining the
process.

Instead of filling out eight copies of reports detailing the circumstances
leading up to a criminal charge, officers would check off a few boxes and
hand out the equivalent of a traffic ticket. The offender would voluntarily
pay the amount or fight the fine in court.

Police would have more time to go after drug traffickers and the organized
criminals who arrange pot smuggling into the U.S. Judges would try more
serious cases sooner.

Drug law enforcers complain the courts are too easy on pot growers. Someone
who grows 350 plants three times a year can make $1 million in undeclared
profits. Yet first-time offenders face nominal fines, said McLachlan, who
commands a five-member drug squad.

"There's not enough deterrence from the courts to punish these people," he
said.