EASE POT LAW, CHIEF BOB SAYS

Still Remains Opposed To Legalization

Edmonton's top cop says decriminalizing personal-use pot possession - with
a few provisos -might be a better drug deal for everyone.

"I think we need to do things that have positive outcomes at the end of the
day," Chief Bob Wasylyshen told The Sun yesterday.

"Charging people and putting them through the justice system, it can't cure
all of society's problems. It penalizes people for breaking the law - and
that has to happen - but the trouble is, you may take a drug addict into
the courtroom and send the drug addict out of the courtroom, so what have
you really accomplished? Not very much."

That's why the chief, who in the past said he's opposed to decriminalizing
marijuana, now says he's "warm" to the position of the Canadian Association
of Chiefs of Police.

People found with less than 30 grams of weed should be ticketed instead of
criminally charged, but only if the government introduces programs to curb
demand for the drug, "including a balance of prevention, education,
enforcement, counselling, treatment, rehabilitation and diversion
programs," the association says on its Web site.

The association stipulates it does not condone drug use of any kind and
does not support legalizing marijuana.

And neither does Wasylyshen.

"The outright decriminalization of marijuana, I opposed it previously, and
I oppose it now," he said.

But Wasylyshen believes Canada could establish a better drug strategy if
all levels of government worked with police and others to cut the demand
for marijuana.

He also supports having one individual responsible for developing a
Canadian strategy to fight drug use, like the drug czar appointed in the
U.S. "One of the things that's missing, for example, is a connection
between the different levels of government."

But the president of the Edmonton Police Association believes Wasylyshen's
stance goes too far.

Sgt. Peter Ratcliff said cops already exercise discretion in laying
criminal charges for small amounts of marijuana.

"I was a sergeant on the street for five years and I don't recall any of my
guys charging for, I guess, you'd call it minute amounts, like a couple of
joints or something like that."

Legally, 30 grams or less is considered simple possession, and "that's like
a sandwich-bag full," Ratcliff said.

The association won't support any form of decriminalization, because
rank-and-file cops believe marijuana use leads to bigger issues, he added.

"As soon as you start saying it's recreational or it's a soft drug, you
open that door to saying, well, it's OK. And they have already done that -
they've changed the Criminal Code to the point where having a couple of
joints in your pocket and going out and blowing a couple joints at a party
or a concert is perfectly normal."

And the chiefs association's push for federal health and education programs
to reduce demand is "an awful big wish," Ratcliff said. "We take a more
stringent view on the use itself."