Move would aid police forces

OTTAWA—Reform MP Keith Martin introduced legislation in Parliament yesterday that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.
(Marijuananews note: The fact that a member of the Reform Party is introducing the bill is very significant. That party’s health issues spokesman is a prohibitionist doctor. Reform "health critic" Dr. Grant Hill says, "As a medical doctor I’ve treated young people who were habituated to marijuana, whose marks had suffered, whose lives were wrecked. That’s my concern." His statements in the recent Parliamentary debates on medical marijuana have been appalling.)

See
Canadian Health Minister Proposes "Clinical Trials" For Medical Marijuana;
Promises Immediate Access For Some Individuals.
"He doesn’t want a restrictive process that would deny access in compassionate cases."
-- 2 Articles
and
Transcript Of Recent Medical Marijuana Debate In Canadian Parliament
Shows Real Concern About The Issues, In Contrast To The DEAland Congressional Record.
But Doctor Spouts Party Line.

Martin’s private members’ bill would amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and parallels elements of a policy adopted by the Canadian Association of Police Chiefs last week.

The chiefs say they could maximize their dwindling resources by targeting organized crime instead of busting potheads.

"I would like to see our police officers pursuing rapists and organized crime barons, not people for simple possession," said Martin, a doctor by training.

His bill was also the source of some embarrassment because it also called on the Feds to decriminalize trafficking of marijuana in small amounts. Bureaucrats were called to fix the blunder.

Amendments were sought by police chiefs so police would have the option of charging someone with 30 grams or less of marijuana or one gram or less of cannabis resin.

Police want to be able to use their discretion, including the option of issuing a ticket that would come with a fine and no criminal record.