cannabisnews.com: Toronto Police Will Take Marijuana At No Charge Toronto Police Will Take Marijuana At No Charge Posted by CN Staff on July 30, 2003 at 07:14:16 PT By Siri Agrell, National Post Source: National Post Toronto -- This morning, up to 450,000 people are expected to stream through the gates of Downsview Park, where they will be searched by one of 1,500 private security guards before gaining access to the Rolling Stones concert.If they are carrying marijuana, they will be presented with a plastic container and two options -- tunes or tokes. "They have a choice to make," Toronto Police Chief Julian Fantino said. "They can dump it or they can take it with them and go elsewhere."There will be a zero-tolerance marijuana policy in effect, and concert-goers who choose tunes must dump their stash in plastic bins brought in specifically for gathering the contraband.After the show, police will dispose of the marijuana."We're just asking people not to bring it at all," said Constable Shehara Valles, a Toronto police spokeswoman. "We think everyone can have a good time and do without."While security guards will staff the gates, 1,300 police officers will be patrolling the grounds throughout the day, keeping an eye out for successful smugglers, Const. Valles said.Anyone found smoking marijuana will be asked to hand it over, but will not be charged, in line with the department's new policy announced this summer.On June 5, Chief Fantino said his officers would stop laying charges for simple possession of marijuana. Under the change in policy, the police began recording the names of anyone found in possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana -- about one ounce -- and document the seizure, recording names and the circumstances.Const. Valles said no such information would be recorded at the concert, unless the amount of drugs confiscated warrants further investigation.The decision to relax police response to possession cases followed what Chief Fantino called "government inaction" and court decisions that left them wondering "whether simple possession of marijuana is an offence at all."He pointed to a May 16 decision by Ontario Superior Court Justice Steven Rogin, who upheld a lower court decision to quash a charge against a youth for possessing less than 30 grams of marijuana because the law is no longer valid. Snipped: Complete Article: http://canada.com/national/story.asp?id=569F77BD-37F3-4A34-B966-F890F3E8051ASource: National Post (Canada)Author: Siri Agrell, National PostPublished: Wednesday, July 30, 2003Copyright: 2003 Southam Inc.Contact: letters nationalpost.comWebsite: http://www.nationalpost.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Rolling Stoneshttp://www.rollingstones.com/Toronto Rockshttp://www.cbc.ca/torontorocks/Stones Have Long Relationship with Torontohttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16930.shtmlU.S. Firm Scores Stones Contract http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16910.shtmlPolice Brace for Mickstock http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16864.shtmlWelcome To The Summer of Love, Babyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16691.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #25 posted by FoM on July 30, 2003 at 15:21:22 PT Slideshow from The Toronto Star http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Render&c=Gallery&cid=1059559941752&colid=1059559941777 [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by FoM on July 30, 2003 at 14:20:29 PT You're Welcome freedom fighter Here's More Excerpt from Article: Although police had said they would search thoroughly for drugs, the scent of marijuana was in the air.Steven Bacon, one of the first Canadians legally allowed to smoke pot for medicinal purposes, waved a Maple Leaf flag adorned with a hemp leaf as he smoked a joint."I got a bit of the activist in me out here," he said. "It makes people gleeful to see the flag."http://canadaeast.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030730/CPN/21347022&cachetime=15 [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by freedom fighter on July 30, 2003 at 13:17:27 PT thanks...... Just to listen is a pleasure...pazff [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by FoM on July 30, 2003 at 13:03:53 PT Not Sure If It's Live It's on now though!http://www.cbc.ca/torontorocks/# [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by FoM on July 30, 2003 at 12:39:18 PT Slideshow of Pictures http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?g=events/en/050702stones&a=&tmpl=sl&ns=&l=&e=1&t=&prev=2 [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by FoM on July 30, 2003 at 12:37:19 PT More Pictures from The Concert Someone must be hassling the CBC because they are unable to bring us the live webcast now. I hope they get it squared away by tonight.Pictures from Concert: http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?ei=UTF-8&p=rolling%20stones&c=news_photos [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on July 30, 2003 at 12:26:43 PT New concert article from Reuters http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=3189248 [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on July 30, 2003 at 11:52:19 PT Pictures from Concert Photo Gallery: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/PhotoGalleryHTMLTemplate?cf=PhotoGallery/config&configFileLoc=PhotoGallery/PhotoGallery.prop&slug=wstonesActors Dan Ackroyd, left, and Jim Belushi perform with their band Have Love Will Travel at the concert for SARS relief in Toronto on Wednesday.Picture: http://images.theglobeandmail.com/RTGAM_Archive/images/20030730/umain0730_2/0730sing2.jpg [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by FoM on July 30, 2003 at 11:44:30 PT Just a Note I meant taking people's pot not arrests since they said they wouldn't arrest anyone for possession. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on July 30, 2003 at 11:39:37 PT So Far No Arrests For Cannabis I just read an article from the Globe and Mail and they haven't taken any pot so far! From The Article: By 10:30 a.m., officials estimated that 100,000 people were inside, with only one arrest to mar the growing anticipation: A man police described as inebriated allegedly hit an officer in the face with a bag, causing a cut. He was charged with assaulting a police officer.Other than a handful of confiscated a handful of knives, including camping knives, at the gates, Police Chief Julian Fantino said that people were abiding by the rules."I don't have any major worries. I'm optimistic, I'm confident," he told a morning news conference.http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030730.umain0730_2/BNStory/National/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on July 30, 2003 at 11:28:14 PT So lemme get this straight You can smoke it in front of the police office downtown with no repercussions. But you can't bring it in to a Rolling Stones concert. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by FoM on July 30, 2003 at 11:10:19 PT EJ I Agree I'm not a fan of the Rolling Stones. We don't even own one of their CDs. I am happy that Toronto is getting help from them though. I don't think our leaders like it that the Canadians are not turning out to be americans with parkas. I am enjoying this event for the events sake. Mick Jagger is a excellent business person but not an activist I don't think. Maybe he's too old to change. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by E_Johnson on July 30, 2003 at 10:23:01 PT So where is Mick Jagger in all this? Happy to collect his paycheck thanks to all of the potheads out there no doubt -- but what will he ever do for the cause? [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by greenfox on July 30, 2003 at 10:19:11 PT Police State It's been a while since I last posted, but seeing this I couldn't resist. So basically, there's a "marijuana tax" in place. And I am quite *sure* (sarcasm noted) that they will "dispose" of it after the show. Uh-huh. Right. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on July 30, 2003 at 10:11:49 PT About The Webcast The high traffic to the site is causing a bottleneck. I can only imagine how many people are trying to view the webcast! Hopefully it will be available again soon! [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by freedom fighter on July 30, 2003 at 09:55:55 PT The title should be "Toronto Police Will Steal Marijuana At No Charge"1500 security guards divide by 450,000 cows equals 300 cows. Too many cows and not enough time!! I would worry about knives and guns.. more than I would a joint if I was a security officer. And you bet, if I find someone with a baggie, I am just going let him in..Moo! Moo! Mooooo!I'll bet this concert is going be a blast..Let the Rock and Roll begin!pazff [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on July 30, 2003 at 09:45:40 PT About The Webcast All I can say is thank you CBC! It's great! [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on July 30, 2003 at 09:31:22 PT BGreen I don't think they will confiscate pot. I think they had to say that for order sake. If they didn't I could see someone carrying in pounds and passing it out! LOL! I'm only kidding.They might speak out. We can hope! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by BGreen on July 30, 2003 at 09:27:33 PT "Confiscation" of a LEGAL substance constitutes THEFT.Criminal charges need to be filed on 1,500 private "security" guards (which in the police states means steroid fed college goons in t-shirts with "SECURITY" printed on the back.)It's also time for the bands like the Rolling Stones to stand up and speak out in defense of their fans. They need to speak out like Willie Nelson and do commercials for NORML. Silence equals complicity in and acceptance of the lies of the cannabis prohibitionists.The Rev. Bud Green [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on July 30, 2003 at 09:17:49 PT Here's The Webcast from The CBC! Truth yes the times they are a changin'http://www.cbc.ca/torontorocks/# [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Truth on July 30, 2003 at 08:58:33 PT security Martha's herb was found be security as we went in to Red Rocks to see the Dead, when she showed him her doc's recommendation they gave her pot back, time's are a changin' [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on July 30, 2003 at 08:13:10 PT ErikGhint I'm sure it won't be a problem! Good Luck and please tell us all about it when you get rested up. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by ErikGhint on July 30, 2003 at 08:07:21 PT wish me luck on "smuggling" my sweet cannabis to the show. I don't think it will be a problem. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on July 30, 2003 at 07:46:54 PT Rolling Stones Jukebox A little entertainment!http://www.rollingstones.com/jukebox/jukebox.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 30, 2003 at 07:20:29 PT If You Want To Follow The Concert Here's The Link! I am excited about this concert. Not because of it being the Rolling Stones but the spirit of the concert. I want the world to see that our culture is alive and well and has value. For one day we are the world! Join us Wednesday, July 30th starting at 12:00 noon ET for our live webcast from the concert.http://www.cbc.ca/torontorocks/ [ Post Comment ] Post Comment