TORONTO, June 6 (UPI) -- The police chief of Canada's biggest city has ordered his officers not to make arrests for possession of small amounts marijuana.
Julian Fantino made the announcement, saying cannabis would be seized but officers "will not lay charges of simple possession," the Toronto Sun reported.
Officers will continue to investigate marijuana cases but Fantino said he will leave it to them to "exercise their discretion" about laying minor charges.
Without direction from Crown prosecutors and lawmakers, the police have been left "basically to our own devices to sort this mess out," he said.
Debates in the courts and Parliament over decriminalizing possession of less than 15 grams have put police in legal handcuffs despite laws remaining in force.
On May 16 in Windsor, Ont., a justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice overturned a youth's conviction for being caught with less than 30 grams of marijuana.
