REGIONAL POLICE URGE NATIONAL DRUG STRATEGY

While supporting an amnesty for those convicted of simple possession, Cape
Breton Regional Police are voicing opposition to a call for the
legalization of marijuana.

Associate chief Dave Wilson said Monday his force would like to see the
development of a national drug strategy which focuses on education and
research into the various illegal drugs.

"We would like a strategy that puts more money in researching the effects
of such drugs along with more money for law enforcement," said Wilson,
adding research should also explore the current trends in drug use.

Like many of the national editorials and commentaries that appeared over
the weekend, the regional force supports decriminalizing the drug rather
than legalization.

A Senate committee recommended last week that marijuana become legal, that
it can be purchased by Canadians as young as 16 and that an amnesty be
offered to those convicted of possession.

Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, chairman of the special committee that drafted
the report, said the issue remains in the hands of the federal government
and that nothing is likely to happen quickly.

A House of Commons committee is expected to issue a report on illicit drugs
in November. Justice Minister Martin Cauchon said the government will study
those findings and won't unveil its position before early next year.

All federal political parties are on record as being in support of
decriminalization which would allow Canadians to possess small amounts of
the drug. Legalizing the drug could result in its sale from government-run
stores or possibly corner stores.

The senators called for an amnesty for the 300,000 to 600,000 Canadians who
have a criminal record for simple possession of cannabis.

They also recommended improvements to ease access to medicinal marijuana
for people undergoing cancer chemotherapy or those suffering from glaucoma
or chronic pain.

Wilson said his force supports medicinal use but wants to ensure illegal
grow operations are weeded out and a test developed to determine whether a
driver is under the influence of marijuana.

Many police officers across the country are already practicing a form of
decriminalization when apprehending suspects for possession.

Wilson said the decision to charge an individual with possession is left to
the individual officer with quantity being a determining factor.

A conviction on a charge of possession means an individual is left with a
criminal record, meaning hassles at border crossings and even barriers to
getting a job in some cases.

The Senate committee report estimates as many as two million Canadians have
used cannabis in the last year and as many as 100,000 use it daily. Police
say as much as 800 tonnes of cannabis circulates in Canada each year.