Dudley doobie

As Metro Times reported previously, marijuana has become a hot topic in the coldest third of North America. To make a long story fit: Because of a judge’s ruling, the Canadian providence of Ontario technically has no law against possession of small amounts of marijuana (under 30 grams). It seems the government ignored court orders to make provisions for medical marijuana use, and because it failed to do so, all minor possession laws were declared invalid.

In our previous report, we quoted Windsor Police Staff Sgt. Ed McNorton, who stated that Windsor cops were still seizing pot and taking names in hopes that some clarification of the laws would come soon.

Since then, attorney Brian McAllister, who this spring represented an Ontario teen acquitted when a judge agreed with McAllister’s contention that possession laws were invalid, sent News Hits an e-mail claiming that police have realized that “if there is no prohibition against cannabis, there is no power to search and seize.”

According to McAllister, Windsor Police Chief Glenn Stannard recently issued a directive making it clear to officers that they are not to search and seize for simple possession of marijuana.

McNorton, however, still contends that Windsor continues to seize pot, but that no arrests are being made or fines levied.

McAllister predicts that if Ontario police departments are still seizing pot or arresting those found with small amounts, a slew of lawsuits could find their way into the Ontario courts.

A recent article in the National Post indicates just how screwy things have become. Seems an 18-year-old woman reported the theft of $20 worth of pot to York Regional Police. What’s a Dudley Do-Right to do with a dilemma like that? According to the article, the cops are conducting an investigation and hope to return the stolen cannabis to its rightful owner.