February 24, 2004

The Right Honourable Paul Martin
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A2

AN OPEN LETTER CONCERNING BILL C-10
DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

Dear Prime Minister Martin,

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, the Canadian Professional Police Association, the Canadian Association of Police Boards, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the union representing Canada’s customs officers (CEUDA) are concerned about the serious ramifications for Canadians’ health and safety posed by your Government’s initiative to decriminalize marijuana. The loosening of marijuana possession laws will come at a high price for our society.

In a united stand against the Government’s previous drug legislation, Bill C-38, we spoke out on the inadequacies of the new law in the absence of a National Drug Strategy with innovative prevention and treatment programs. Decriminalizing marijuana possession laws without putting in place sufficient measures to properly enforce the country’s drug laws, is simply making marijuana more easily available to users -- including impressionable youth. Another major concern is the fact that the police do not have effective means to detect and charge drug-impaired drivers.

In the rush to decriminalize marijuana, your Government has failed to provide the appropriate countermeasures that will safeguard the safety and well-being of Canadians. We urge you, Mr. Prime Minister, to delay Bill C-10 until we have a comprehensive National Drug Strategy fully developed and there are effective drug-impaired driving laws in effect.

Sincerely,

Canadian Professional Police Association
Tony Cannavino
President

Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
Edgar MacLeod
President

Canadian Association of Police Boards
Edward Keyes
President

MADD Canada
Andrew Murie
National Executive Director

Customs Excise Union Douanes Accise
Ron Moran
Président National

c.c:

The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security and Emergency Preparedness
The Honourable Irwin Cotler, Attorney General of Canada and Minister of Justice
The Honourable Pierre S. Pettigrew, Minister of Health
All Members of Parliament
All Senators
Federal, Provincial and Territorial Attorney Generals and Solicitor Generals
Various Media

Also see -

Police, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Customs Officers Urge the Prime Minister of Canada to Delay Marijuana Bill