cannabisnews.com: Pot Law Could Boost Cost of Policing, RCMP Warns





Pot Law Could Boost Cost of Policing, RCMP Warns
Posted by CN Staff on March 14, 2004 at 15:19:09 PT
By Jim Bronskill, Canadian Press 
Source: Canadian Press 
Ottawa -- The federal plan to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana could increase policing costs, not reduce them as many predict, according to internal RCMP notes. The revelation is among several uncertainties and reservations regarding the proposed pot bill spelled out in newly disclosed briefing materials prepared by the national police force.
The Mounties take issue with the oft-repeated assertion that the existing pot law is enforced unevenly across Canada, and express concern about some elements of the new legislative package. Several pages of RCMP notes, compiled from May through December of last year, were obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act. The latest statistics show police laid a record number of drug-related charges in 2002, with 75 per cent of the 93,000 incidents involving pot. Under the bill currently before Parliament, possessing 15 grams or less of marijuana - about 15 to 20 joints - would no longer be a criminal matter but a ticketing offence punishable by a fine of $150 for an adult or $100 for a youth. Some advocates argue the legislative proposals will free up valuable police time for more serious matters, but the Mounties remain to be convinced. "Police do not see these reforms as resulting in cost savings to them," say the RCMP notes. "Which way the volume of marijuana offences will go is difficult to say. It may result in cost savings or it may result in cost increases." The Mounties believe a key factor would be how many of the tickets issued under the new proposals end up being challenged. "If a large percentage of the tickets issued were contested in court and police officers were called to testify, our costs might actually increase." A number of activists pushing for legalization - not just decriminalization - of marijuana have promised to protest the federal changes by routinely challenging fines. Eugene Oscapella of the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy, which favours legalization, said it is "quite likely" costs to police will rise under the changes. "Some people in the reform movement are arguing that they should just clog up the courts, and that's one tactic." The federal government says that in large urban centres police are much less likely to lay a charge for possession of small amounts of cannabis than in other parts of the country. Liberal MP Wayne Easter, a former solicitor general, echoed the argument recently. "In some areas you get a slap on the wrist, in other areas you get a criminal record." The Mounties deny the suggestion, saying the force strives to enforce the law "in a consistent manner, keeping in mind the policing priorities of the regions it serves." There is no evidence "this would be any different if the new reform is adopted in Canada," the notes say. In consultations with federal officials, the Mounties supported the idea of ticketing provisions for marijuana possession, the notes add, but only if police officers would be able to retain the current option of issuing a summons to appear in criminal court for even very small quantities. This would be reserved for cases in which "aggravating factors" made the option of a criminal charge more appropriate. However, the government did not follow the RCMP's advice. Currently, growing marijuana is a single offence, punishable by up to seven years in prison. The bill proposes four separate offences, with punishments ranging from a fine of $5,000 for being caught with one to three plants to 14 years behind bars for cultivating 50 or more. When advised in advance of the government's options, "the RCMP said it preferred to not see potential penalties lowered for any cultivation offences." Complete Title: New Pot Law Could Boost Cost of Policing, RCMP WarnsSource: Canadian PressAuthor: Jim Bronskill, Canadian Press Published: March 14, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Canadian PressRelated Articles & Web Sites:CFDPhttp://www.cfdp.ca/Green Tide Shadow Summit http://www.greentide.ca/Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmMarijuana Grow Ops Raise Cash for Crime http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18447.shtmlPolice Want Private Sector To Fight Grow-Opshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18442.shtmlCannabisNews -- Canada Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/Canada.shtml
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on March 16, 2004 at 09:03:56 PT
Hi Marc
I would comment but I don't know what to say. You guys up there are working very hard and down here we aren't. The election stuff has stalled our issue. Until hopefully Kerry becomes our next president I think we are and will be in a state of limbo!
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Comment #8 posted by Marc Paquette on March 16, 2004 at 08:59:47 PT:
Yes, I know
Hi FoM;I know you are member in the CCC, and you should give your opinions sometimes as well. I don't mind at all hearing about what's happening in our neighbour's backyard :o). The grass is getting greener..isn't it?Peace bud!Marc
http://www.medpot.net
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on March 15, 2004 at 08:24:40 PT
Hi Marc
I wanted to say that even though I don't talk in the CCC list I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the information and energy that I have seen. Go Canada!!!
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Comment #6 posted by afterburner on March 15, 2004 at 07:38:51 PT:
More Grow-Op Hysteria
Brazen grow-op are getting tougher to derail 
2004-03-15 01:15:35 [Toronto Star: Life] http://tinyurl.com/2kwlv
"If you think those guys who were harvesting marijuana in the old Molson plant were brazen, or can't believe that there was a grow operation thriving in eight apartments, between floors, in Parkdale, well, that's only the beginning."Free enterprise: if you legalize cannabis, it can be grown outdoors, in backyards, and greenhouse at a fraction of the cost. Then all the "nasty" grow-ops wither away. Do you feel safe having your neighbors spying on you, the police breaking down your door, more "brazen" grow-ops in possibly unsafe conditions? It's a plant: let it grow in your garden.Community loses with tattle-tale justice 2004-03-14 01:00:00 [Toronto Star: Life] ALAN YOUNG, REASONABLE DOUBT http://tinyurl.com/22nql
' "I spy with my little eye ... something that is green." >This simple children's game has now become a tool of law enforcement. Warning of the coming Armageddon of super-evil pot growers armed with dangerous hydroponic equipment, bacterial agents and high-intensity lights, the police have now asked the public to report any homes emitting pungent odours.'
Brazen grow-op are getting tougher to derail
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Comment #5 posted by Petard on March 15, 2004 at 03:55:25 PT
Well, it was THEM that declared War,
And every good guerilla knows the most effective way to wage a guerilla war is to use the enemies strength's against them. The enemies strength is it's system, it's courts and it's dollars. So, use that system against it, turn their system against them, increase their costs and bog down their dockets.That's why I also say turn the prison system against them. Do NOT plea bargain, go the distance. Make them supply you with an attorney (sure it'll be some jackass that hasn't a clue, but make the system pay anyway) and insist on a full jury trial. Make them provide lab tests proving the substance was illegal, get the arresting officer off the street and into the courtroom for several hours. Do NOT perform any services to the advantage of the prison while incarcerated, make them hire people to cook, clean, do laundry, etc.. Do NOT do anything except make use of the free medical and dental services, the educational opportunities (including trade schooling). Whatever costs them $ and time in paperwork, personnel, etc., do it.There's more than overgrowing to overthrowing.
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Comment #4 posted by Marc Paquette on March 15, 2004 at 01:58:43 PT:
DUMB, DUMBER, and DUH!
Hi my Friends;Do you know why these days they are asking 2 cops per cop cruiser? It's because they're asking for a grade 12 to become a cop...each one with a grade 6! LOLThe government didn't follow RCMP's advice..awwwwww..isn't it suppose to be the other way around?Dumb is the Canadian government, Dumber is the Ministry of Justice, and DUH are the cops!FREE THE WEED!Peace,Marc
http://www.medpot.net
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Comment #3 posted by lilgrasshoppah77 on March 15, 2004 at 00:39:11 PT:
whoopsy! An error hunting post!
In my last post, I made a couple of typoes, to be rectified here...INcreased pay... not UNcreased pay.and 1922, not 1992
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Comment #2 posted by lilgrasshoppah77 on March 15, 2004 at 00:36:02 PT:
excuse me for being thick...
but doesn't it seem odd that the cops would be complaining about increased wo... I mean uncreased pay? Look, Constable Friendly, if the cost of busting marijuana users bothers you soooo much.... think of this, prior to 1992, (before cannabis was rendered illegal) the cost of "marijuana laws" was a nice, round *extremely low* number: zero.That's cause there were none. Constable Friendly, if you really do want to save money for the Canadian Public:DONOTARRESTPOT SMOKERSDo not hassle them. Do not fine them. Do not incarcerate them. Do not infringe, in any way, on their god-given right to liberty.It's so simple, to me. But I must be thick, because I don't UNDERSTAND why the friendly, compassionate, considerate, cost-effective, all-wise-all-knowing-all-seeing-all-powerful Royal Canadian Mounted Police can't figure out what should be so blatantly straight forward.Sigh.
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Comment #1 posted by OverwhelmSam on March 14, 2004 at 15:29:48 PT:
If they're so worried about cost...
Stop harassing people for possession. Sounds like the police are more paranoid about marijuana than chronic marijuana users.
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