Canada’s War on Pot Just Got Weirder

[underscore]

^ it sounds like you have more of an issue with the legalization of pot than you do with officers being in uniform at the hill.

Has there been a single incident that anyone can cite that shows how pot smokers have jeopardized anyone's safety?

Have you driven behind someone that's clearly stoned? It can get sketchy.

[SurplusElect]

Have you driven behind someone that's clearly stoned? It can get sketchy.

Eyewitness hearsay.

Cite relevant examples. Dead snowboarders/skiers (not drivers of motor vehicles) with "marijuana impairment" on a corners report, ect.

I have a problem with wasting resources (court and social costs) and giving criminal records to people who normally wouldn't get them but "unfortunately for some 20 year old with a future" Sgt. Hang-ten needs to justify his free daypass and keep tourists away from offensive smells.

If the police were needed up there - then they would be there - and not under a pot smoke pre-text. Nothing against the police.

[KL3-Something]

Wow. You guys are really, really hung up on the whole marijuana possession thing on this. That is about 10% of the reason that they are there. But this is what the left-wing CBC was likely trying to accomplish by taking the approach they did with their article.

There are a few things that need to be considered:

1) Marijuana possession is still illegal. What the future holds is unknown, but for now...that is the case.

2) Ski hills, their chairlifts and gondola's are private property. If the owners of those private properties don't want that type of activity on their property that is their right. If they want the police present to deal with those issues, that is their right.

3) Whenever a private enterprise wants an additional police presence for public safety (i.e the organizers of Center of Gravity) they have to pay for it. In these cases that payment comes in the form of allowing the police officers to ride the chair lifts without charge. Call it a perk if you want. At Centre of Gravity the perk is making double time. On the ski hill it's free lift rides. Like I said before, the non-chairlift-reefer smoking folks appreciate the presence.

4) The members are responsible for more than looking for drug/alcohol users. They are the ones who take whatever files come in on the mountain that day that they can get to/deal with alone.

So many of you have this distant ignorance (as in uninformed) of the police officers that work in your communities that you form from reading and watching the news. You want police to be more people-friendly. Well here is your chance. Maybe you'll end up riding the lift with one of them. If you can refrain from sparking up for that one ride that day maybe you can have a chat about the weather with them and realize that they are just another person who likes to hit the slopes.

***Now, back to your regularly scheduled debate about marijuana legalization (because there can never be enough of those)***

[Nebula]

I suspected Mounties weren't going to be spending their days just looking for Doobie the Snowboarding Wonder Puppy.

[underscore]

Eyewitness hearsay.

How about watching some idiot run a red light then stop on the other side? Luckily no one was driving on the other road, or that would've been an accident.

Cite relevant examples. Dead snowboarders/skiers (not drivers of motor vehicles) with "marijuana impairment" on a corners report, ect.

People don't have to be dying for them to be a nuisance (nearly hitting small children etc). Alpine responsibility code, point 9:

"You must not use lifts or terrain if your ability is impaired through use of alcohol or drugs."

Which is what you agree to when you get a pass at any mountain. If someone can't get through the day without smoking pot, they have an addiction and should probably get help.

I have a problem with wasting resources (court and social costs) and giving criminal records to people who normally wouldn't get them but "unfortunately for some 20 year old with a future" Sgt. Hang-ten needs to justify his free daypass and keep tourists away from offensive smells.

Possession is illegal no matter where you are. If someone chooses to possess and use marijuana, regardless of where they are, that is the risk that they are taking and it's their own damn fault if they get a criminal record. They're also the ones wasting resources, not the police.

[ford150]

"You must not use lifts or terrain if your ability is impaired through use of alcohol or drugs."

^^^should be posted in all of the many onsite bars that serve copious amounts of liquor every day or on the ski racks in front of all of the bars, you know the convenient place provided for the drinkers to leave unattended unlocked expensive gear while they pour back a few pints with lunch and a couple shots of tequila before the afternoon runs. Have a look sometime the bars are full of skiers drinking mid-way through the day. Where do they all go after “lunch”?
They sell booze to skiers right on the hill just ski up drink all you want then ski away.

If these people cant get through a day without drinking the have a problem.

[underscore]

"You must not use lifts or terrain if your ability is impaired through use of alcohol or drugs."

^^^should be posted in all of the many onsite bars that serve copious amounts of liquor every day or on the ski racks in front of all of the bars, you know the convenient place provided for the drinkers to leave unattended unlocked expensive gear while they pour back a few pints with lunch and a couple shots of tequila before the afternoon runs. Have a look sometime the bars are full of skiers drinking mid-way through the day. Where do they all go after “lunch”?
They sell booze to skiers right on the hill just ski up drink all you want then ski away.

If these people cant get through a day without drinking the have a problem.

That responsibility falls on the consumer, not the bar. Not to mention every place I've eaten at up at Big White requires you to purchase food if you want to purchase alcohol. But then again I rarely if ever eat in the main restaurants during the day, I'm too busy skiing.

[Poindexter]

It's all good until a mountie catches an edge and shoots himself.

Seriously? Do they really need a gun and vest? I have spent many many hours on the slopes and have yet to see a single pot smoker sporting a side arm.

[ford150]

Oh so it’s more of a suggestion than a rule.
They should change Alpine responsibility code, point 9:

"You must not use lifts or terrain if your ability is impaired through use of alcohol or drugs unless you have eaten somthing."

[GoStumpy]

Good one

[bob vernon]

We see RCMP during the summer on bicycles patrolling the beaches. Looking for weed and beer or something like that. A couple of summers ago while at Kin beach there was a guy with his dog frolicking in the water, despite there being signs posted all along the beach saying that no dogs or horses were allowed in the park or on the beach. A guy complained to the officers, who replied that the horse and dog ban on the beach was a city bylaw, and they weren't responsible for enforcing those, and they rode off.

A day at the park, on a bike.

[SurplusElect]

Wow. You guys are really, really hung up on the whole marijuana possession thing on this. That is about 10% of the reason that they are there. But this is what the left-wing CBC was likely trying to accomplish by taking the approach they did with their article.

Aside from your own bias, the quoted RCMP officer said :

"It's going to deter people from bringing narcotics or have that second look of doing something on the ski hill because they know there is going to be a police presence," said RCMP Cpl. Jeff Campbell, the detachment commander in Lake Louise.

...and the focus is of course...

The officers, who are in uniform and carrying weapons, are focusing their attention on substance abuse on the chairlifts and gondolas.

So really...what are you talking about? They just reported what was said. Blaming it on the CBC is just not valid unless you have the reporters notes to see what they omitted.

If there were rampant thefts and problems up on ski hills, you guys would already be up there patrolling. The context is substance abuse on chairlifts - keeping tourists safe from offensive smells.

[underscore]

Oh so it’s more of a suggestion than a rule.

And how did you make that assumption?

"It's going to deter people from bringing narcotics or have that second look of doing something on the ski hill because they know there is going to be a police presence," said RCMP Cpl. Jeff Campbell, the detachment commander in Lake Louise.

You're right, he did say that. Was that the only thing he said? Probably not. Is it the only thing the media published? Yes. Does that mean this is the only thing they will be doing? No.

[Fancy]

It was already stated that alcohol was an issue as well as theft. Links already provided.

[kibbs]

Have you driven behind someone that's clearly stoned? It can get sketchy

I think they are stoned but when I pass them they are 80 something and clearly over medicated .
The most annoying thing are texters as the stop light.When it is clear that weed possession is hardly an issue ,big white has security to deal with these things if people complain.Its obvious police protection payola.Big deal .Far worse police crap happening then this.The police mind cant tell good spin from bad .They need PR help.