Police chief favours ticketing for minor marijuana offences M: - unusual- Women 3 Boon - 23 regular sea on games + 2 nlayofl games ; f Game times from 8pm â€" 1n , 2 § «a ‘. *0 -~‘ H »_ h,, 1, v‘ w- )w . BY JEREMY GRIMALDI ngn'maldi@yrmg. com If you’re found smoking a joint on a comer in York Region. should you end up with a criminal record? York Regional Police Chief Eric lolliffe doesn't think so. He says a more measured approach should be considered for minor pot offences â€"â€" the equiva- lent of someone holding 30 grams of marijuana, to make about 40 joints. For that amount. while also using ofï¬cer's discretion, those who are simple users would be given a ticket, similar to what residents would receive for drinking alcohol in a public park. Despite this modern stance. lomffe is quite clear. this does not mean he’s in favour of decriminal- ization or legalization of the drug. "It is our opinion that the it use of cannabis has a negative impact on public safety and the health of young persons," he However, hedoes behevetheï¬esh approach to the issue would beneï¬t his oï¬icers. residents and institutions here and across the country. “From our perspective. what is being proposed will lessen the bur- den on the criminal justice system as well as our oflicers’ time having to attend man for these relatively minor offences." he wrote in an email. “It will also allow our officers to use their discretion on a case by case basis. which is more efï¬cient and makes good common sense." )olliffe. similar to many chiefs around the country. is not the only one whose view is shifting under a weight of research that suggests marijuana users should not be put through the court system. Many. including federal Liberal Leader ’Iustin Thldeau. who is in favour of the government taxing and Ieguhting the substance, agree the drug should be legalized entirely. Colorado and Washington. for example. legalized marijuana use for adults older than 21 on Ian. 1. Polls are showing a softening view of the drug among Canadians of all ages The results of a national sun/8y of 3,000 people. commissioned by the Department of Justice. showed two thirds of respondents want marijuana laws softened. but a majority says companies should not be allowed to package and sell marijuana like alcohol and ciga- renes Meanwhile 37.3 per cent say marijuana should be legalized. 33.4 percent want small amounts 13.7 per cent say the laws should stay the same. COLORADO, WASHINGTON York Adult Hockey League Winter 201 4/1 5 Applications available for teams and individuals 22 game season for weekend play starting in October 2014 ALL GAMES PLAYED AT THE STOUFFVILLE CLIPPERS SPORTS COMPLEX while l2 per cent say they should be strengthened. In light of the Trudeau announcement. the Conservative government put out the following messageon its website. "Ihese drugs are illegal because of the harmful effect they have on users and on society." the statement read. “We will continue protecting the interests of families across this country. Our government has no interest in seeing marijuana legal- However when it comes to Chief lollifle's position. which is backed by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. Conservative House Leader and York Simcoe MP Peter Van Loan said the govemmem is looking into it. The mm is looking at the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police’s pmposal to ticket for small amounts df marijuana. he said. “Unlike the Liberal Party. wv haw been very dear. wv how no 'mtvn tion of legalizmg or (h‘riminatli/jng marijuana. The Chiefs 0f I'hliw ham- also been wry clear that they do nul support marijuana Maximum." Oak Ridges MP Paul (male said while he is personally “undoâ€" cided" on the issue. the gown)~ mem's policy has been xiowiy morv phing on medical umriiuanu policy. where the gM‘nunvm has made signiï¬cant changos and mixed tho option of du‘riminalizing small amounts of nmriiuuna. “Police know the tlifl‘vn‘m‘v between someont‘ trafï¬cking and someone using it for mn-mulicinul purpmcs." he said. “I huwn't won evidence either way I haw \pu ken to ofï¬cer friends who say thm would like another tool in tho tool box (ticketing for small amounts) " accommoanth Must»)!