Purge pot possession convictions, mayor of Sarnia says

SARNIA Sarnia’s mayor wants the federal government to eliminate the criminal records of Canadians convicted of simple possession of marijuana after recreational use of the drug becomes legal next July.

Mike Bradley sent a letter Monday asking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to give “serious consideration” to expunging records for simple possession once marijuana is decriminalized in Canada in July.

“Over the years I’ve had a number of people tell me about the difficulties they’ve had in their lives because of a simple possession conviction,” said Bradley, whose city is a stone’s throw from the United States border where Canadians convicted of pot possession can be turned back.

One of Ontario’s longest-serving mayors, with a long record dealing with senior governments, Bradley said he’s asking the federal government to only consider clearing criminal records for simple possession of pot, and not more serious charges such as trafficking.

Convictions for simple possession can go back decades and prevent Canadians from visiting the U.S., he said. Often, they’re people with no other convictions and who have lived lives that have contributed to the country, the mayor said in his letter.

Tens of thousands of Canadians are charged with possession every year. Figures released this summer show more than 15,000 people were charged with possession of marijuana and more than 2,000 convicted between October 2015, when the Trudeau government was elected vowing to liberalize Canada’s pot law, and April 2017.

Criminal records for simple possession can affect a person’s ability to work and travel, Bradley said. “I’m also aware that the Americans don’t always honour our (criminal) pardons, but to me I think it would help a lot of people,” he said.

London defence lawyer Gord Cudmore said he has a “mixed reaction” to Bradley’s suggestion.

“I think it’s a very complicated issue. And I think there’s arguments on both sides,” he said. “You usually don’t back-date or make things retroactive (in the criminal justice system).”

Cudmore said he believes marijuana should have been legalized years ago. He also notes expunging criminal records isn’t as easy as just saying it should be done.

Paul Whitehead, a retired Western University sociologist who specializes in criminology and addictions, said he is “not crazy” about decriminalization.

He said what should be taken into account is the number of individuals who plead down to simple possession from more serious charges, such as possession for the purposes of trafficking.

“Our court system depends on 90 per cent of people charged pleading guilty,” he said.