Difficult to say what legalized marijuana would mean for Regina police: chief

The legalization of marijuana could be something Canadians see in the near future as it was one of the big issues Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau and his Liberal Party campaigned on.

Now that they have a majority government, many are waiting to see what comes next in that regard. That includes Regina Police Chief Troy Hagen. When asked how legalizing pot might affect officers in the Queen City, he explained how until the law is written and tabled, it’s really difficult to anticipate what that could mean. At this point, he said it’s only a promise.

“That’s why it’s sort of awkward to have a conversation when I’m not sure where this is going to land,” the chief said.

“It’d make some impact on our resources for sure,” he guessed, though he added it wouldn’t be a huge one.

Hagen said it’s difficult to quantify exactly how much time is spent on dealing with marijuana-related crimes, though they do know how many charges are laid in respect to use of the drug.

While Regina police wait on Trudeau and the Liberals to formulate new rules around marijuana, the chief said they’ll be developing a relationship with the new government through the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.