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Ø Annual costs for drug enforcement
in Canada can be estimated at between $700 million and $1 billion.
Ø Reduced law enforcement activities
resulting from amendments to the drug legislation on cannabis could produce
either substantial savings or significant reallocations of funds by police
forces to other priorities.
Ø Due to the consensual nature of
drug offences, police have been granted substantial enforcement powers and
have adopted highly intrusive investigative techniques; these powers are not
unlimited, however, and are subject to review by Canadian courts.
Ø Over 90,000 drug-related incidents
are reported annually by police; more than three-quarters of these incidents
relate to cannabis and over 50% of all drug-related incidents involve
possession of cannabis.
Ø From 1991 to 2001, the percentage
change in rate per 100,000 people for cannabis-related offences is
+91.5–thus, the rate of reported cannabis-related offences has almost doubled
in the last decade.
Ø Reported incidents related to the
cultivation of cannabis have seen a dramatic increase in the last decade.
Ø Reported incident rates vary
widely from province to province.
Ø Cannabis was involved in 70% of
the approximately 50,000 charges in 1999.
In 43% of cases (21,381), the charge was for possession of cannabis.
Ø Charge rates for drug offences
vary significantly from province to province.
Ø The uneven application of the law
is of great concern and may lead to discriminatory enforcement, alienation of
certain groups within society, and creation of an atmosphere of disrespect
for the law; in general, it raises the issue of fairness and justice.
Ø Seizure statistics would seem to
confirm an increase in cannabis cultivation in Canada and also a shift in
police priorities regarding this offence.
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