2 former Toronto police chiefs have very different stances on marijuana legalization

TORONTO — They’re both former chiefs of Toronto Police.  They’re both seeking federal office.

But Bill Blair and Julian Fantino sit on two opposite sides of the political spectrum, and have two very different views on the legalization of marijuana.

Fantino, the Conservative incumbent in the riding of Vaughan-Woodbridge said legalization amounts to nothing more than a cash grab with a health and safety risk.

“This is not like smoking cigarettes. This is also the type of drug that is mind-altering and does have an impact on cognitive ability,” he said.

“Then there’s the whole issue of impairment. Police officers today and society generally have a hard time with alcohol-impaired driving. Now we’re adding one more freewheeling element with drug-impaired driving.”

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Blair, meanwhile, is running in Scarborough for the Liberals. His party’s leader, Justin Trudeau, is the one proposing the controversial idea.

Blair said all concerns can be minimized if legal marijuana is controlled in much the same way as booze.

“We have rules in Ontario on where alcohol can be sold; the circumstances under which that sale takes place, who it can be sold to,” he said.

“We regulate on where it can be used; when it can be used.”

It’s a stance you wouldn’t expect from a former police chief, and one Fantino said flies in the face of their counterparts.

“I take my views as well from the International Association of Chiefs of Police, who are against the legalization of marijuana,” Fantino said.

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Blair knows that. He was President of the Canadian branch; but he said it’s time to think outside the box.

“You can say, ‘let’s not change anything,’ but when what you’re doing isn’t working, you’ve got to do better,” Blair said.

They each say they rely heavily on their experiences wearing the badge in shaping their views.

But when it comes to firsthand experience, they’ve got significantly less.

“I’ve never smoked once,” said Fantino with a chuckle. Prodded on that revelation he insisted he’s “never smoked the stuff.”  

Blair also said he’s never smoked weed; though he jokes he’s bought a lot of it working undercover.