POLICE CHIEF SAYS 'NO' TO LEGALIZING POT

It Would Open Floodgates For Young Canadians

Chatham-Kent Police Chief Carl Herder was extremely critical Thursday of
proposals to legalize marijuana for any Canadian 16 years of age or older.

"In fact, I can't believe a Canadian Senate committee would even consider
such a thing," said Herder in an interview.

The police chief said legalization would lead to widespread use of
marijuana by a larger number of younger Canadians.

"It would certainly make the substance more available to younger Canadians."

Herder said today's laws prohibit young Canadians from smoking or drinking
under the age of 19 and yet the Senate proposal would allow pot smoking at 16.

The report, released Wednesday in Ottawa, was hailed by marijuana activists
but fiercely condemned by the Canadian Police Association which called it
"a back-to-school gift for drug pushers."

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

Herder said he can't understand why senators are wasting their time on such
a matter.

"Legalizing marijuana is an absolute huge mistake," he said. "It would open
the floodgates to young Canadians."

Herder said legalization of the banned substance would lead to increased
family and social problems and create more work and headaches for policing
authorities.

"It would simply create another myriad of problems."

As for legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes, Herder said, "I
could possibly live with that."

But the police chief said he finds it strange that in today's troubled
society, elected and appointed officials are spending time debating issues
such as marijuana legalization.

"I want to reiterate that legalizing marijuana won't make our jobs as
police officers easier," Herder said.

"In fact, it will create more work for the men and women in law enforcement."

Herder said he is also opposed to wiping the record clean for the 300,000
to 600,000 Canadians who have a criminal record for minor possession of
marijuana.

"It's a criminal offence to possess marijuana," he said.

"Would the law makers wipe out the records of all those charged with other
criminal offences over the years?"

Herder said he can envision all kinds of problems occurring as a result of
legalizing marijuana.

"And I want it to be known that I am totally against the idea."

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.

Cauchon wouldn't say whether he feels the time has come for legalization,
but he did suggest current marijuana laws are outdated.

"When we have legislation that's not really being enforced because it's no
longer consistent with social realities.

"It's important for a government to look at and reshape such legislation,"
Cauchon said.

The report says the current system of prohibition simply doesn't work and
should be replaced by a regulated system like that used for alcohol, with
cannabis available to anyone 16 or older.