DON'T MAKE IT LEGAL: HERDER

Don't do it, is the advice Chatham-Kent Police Chief Carl Herder would give
federal lawmakers as they consider changes to marijuana laws.

"My position, as well as the (Ontario Association of Police Chiefs') is
marijuana should not be legalized and should not be readily available,"
Herder tells Chatham This Week.

The government is contemplating a number of changes to current laws, from
allowing some limited medical use, to lifting criminal sanctions for simple
possession. As well, a new senate report suggests that marijuana and
hashish be legal for persons over the age of 16, and that were should be a
regulated system for growing and selling the products.

The report suggests taxing marijuana products rather than trying to
eradicate the market. But while no quick action is expected from the
federal government, Herder says relaxing the rules, or radically revamping
them, would be a big mistake.

"I realize social norms have changed over the years," he says. "But if it
is more accessible, it will be more accessible to kids."

Herder says it's difficult enough to enforce laws saying children can't
smoke cigarettes, and he's convinced that legal marijuana will be
attractive to young people and bans on its use would be just as difficult
to enforce. Herder acknowledged that a lot of police time is spent
enforcing marijuana laws, but he isn't sure if relaxing them would free up
officers for other duties.

"A great deal of Chatham-Kent police time is spent looking for grow
houses," he said. "But a great deal is also spent dealing with the effects,
like break-ins to raise the money to buy drugs."

Herder wonders if legalization might simply mean officers will have more
associated crime, social problems, and driving problems to deal with as a
result.