cannabisnews.com: Weed Law Wiggle Room Weed Law Wiggle Room Posted by CN Staff on August 25, 2003 at 22:16:22 PT By Keith Bonnell Source: Daily News Legislation to relax the legal punishments for pot users can still be altered if police groups push for changes, Solicitor General Wayne Easter told a national gathering of police chiefs last night.Easter said Ottawa’s controversial plans to have police lay only fines against those found possessing 15 grams of pot or less can be amended, and that the 15-gram threshold could be changed. The solicitor general made the remarks after a keynote address at the opening ceremony for the 98th annual meeting of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.In a move that could be seen as offering an olive branch to police organizations, Easter called on the police chiefs to give their input to the committee hearing process, which the Liberals new marijuana laws still must pass through.Many police officials have been openly critical of Ottawa’s plan to reshape marijuana laws.Easter said the limit of 15 grams could go up or down, based on what the committee hearings are told.“It could change. It could go up, it could go down,” he said. “In terms of those technicalities, we need to hear from the police communities, their point of view.”“We have made our arguments for 15 grams and why, but what I’m saying is for the police community and other Canadians to express their point of view and where they want to go on this legislation.”The current legislation would see youths pay fines of $100 to $250 if they’re found possessing 15 grams or less. Adults would be fined $150 to $400. More importantly, say some, is that people fined for minor possession would not receive a criminal record. The legislation also offers stiffer penalties for those growing and selling marijuana.Too lenient Last week, Toronto Police Chief Julian Fantino criticized the courts for being too lenient on people convicted of running marijuana growing operations.“What I have heard, from police officers and many other across the nation, is ... the very minimum of penalties seems to be the ones that have been imposed to the greatest extent,” Easter said.He said the new marijuana legislation pushes judges to consider aggravating factors, such as past incidents, when sentencing offenders.“The intention of this legislation is for the courts to impose the penalties that are laid out in the law,” Easter told the gathering of several hundred police chiefs. “I expect and we expect the courts to impose those penalties, because they must if we’re going to deal with those marijuana grow operations in a big and effective way,” he said, to a round of applause from his audience.Source: Daily News, The (CN NS)Author: Keith Bonnell Published: Monday, August 25, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Daily NewsContact: bloney hfxnews.caWebsite: http://www.hfxnews.ca/Related Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmDrug Breathalyser in The Works - Easter http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17146.shtmlToronto's Top Cop Blasts 'Lax' Pot Sentences http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17130.shtmlArresting Pot Smokers Not Worth The Effort http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16555.shtml Feds Seek To Plug Pot Holehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16553.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by afterburner on August 26, 2003 at 08:56:59 PT: Speaking to a Gathering of Police Chiefs I dare say that since cannabis prohibition is 80 years old in Canada and since there are undoubtedly NO police chiefs over 80 years of age, that they cannot have the slightest idea what a legal environment would be like. They have only experienced cannabis prohibition all their lives, the black market and crime, and that's all they know. If they would open their eyes to the Summer of Legalization, they would see that cannabis possession is not a threat and if cannabis remains a legal product, the spectre of gang-run grow ops will fade, as the black market and its obscene profits die on the vine. We "other Canadians" are pleased that the Canadian federal government will be listening to us, as well as to the police chiefs. We will be in Ottawa on 25.September.2003 to lobby the government to legalize, or keep legal, the cannabis plant, for its medical and social benefits. We are also engaged in social-awareness activities across Canada and will continue to campaign until the Canadian federal government supports the will of the people. ego transcendence follows ego destruction, the true North strong and free! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Sam Adams on August 26, 2003 at 06:59:12 PT New prisons! Perhaps Mr. Piggie can personally collect the additional taxes every Canadian will have to pay to warehouse the growers in new prisons? Maybe Mr. Piggie can adopt all the fatherless children created by throwing these middle-class growers in prison? [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Kegan on August 26, 2003 at 05:25:42 PT Emery in Kingston http://www.thewhig.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=41515&catname=Local+NewsCheck it out. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by mayan on August 26, 2003 at 05:20:25 PT WW... If the Canadian government implements any policy other than outright legalization they will be seen as kissing uncle Sam's ass. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by WolfgangWylde on August 26, 2003 at 04:19:31 PT Frankly,... ...I hope the whole scheme collapses. That would better the chance that the Supreme Court would step in and legalize it completely. This new law brings Canadians closer than ever to U.S. style prohibition. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment