Following the legalization of recreational pot, B.C. police have been more concerned with traffic than trafficking.
The new B.C. Cannabis Control and Licensing Act bans smoking or vaping in places where tobacco is prohibited, in places frequently used by children such as parks and on school properties and in vehicles. The government has set a limit for possession in a public place at 30 grams.
Vancouver police have issued 18 traffic tickets for cannabis offences since Oct. 17, including six that involved impairment and which led to four 24-hour driving suspensions, spokeswoman Simi Heer said in an email.
During that time, they issued four non-traffic pot tickets, including two for smoking or vaping in an outdoor public place, one for possession of more than 30 grams in public and one for public intoxication. In one case, charges were recommended under the federal Cannabis Act as well as the Criminal Code.
“Our public safety and enforcement priorities have not changed since the legalization of cannabis,” Heer said. “On the investigative side, we are continuing to focus our efforts on the fentanyl crisis and targeting high level manufacturers and distributors.”
Nick Eagland – Vancouver Sun – November 8, 2018.