Marijuana possession charges drop significantly in Calgary

Calgary's overall crime rate wasdown one per cent in 2016, with violent crime dropping three per cent,according to national statistics released on Monday.

Also way down: marijuana possession charges.

• Calgary crime rate and severity decline in 2016 as Edmonton's levels rise

Only 186 adults werecharged for carrying the soon-to-be legalized drug in Calgary in 2016, down from 276 in 2015 and 337 in 2014.

Arrests for possession were down 20 per cent from 2015.

The decline follows a national trend. According to the statistics, police across the country charged 17,733 people with the possession of pot last year, a drop of about 3,600 from 2015.

Calgary Police Chief RogerChaffinsays he's not sure why there was such a drop in Calgary, speculating officers might be focusing on other drugs.

"I think there has likely been some heavy focus on opioids, on methamphetamine. Cocaine is still a relevant drug in this city. And I think some of that limitations of our efforts are likely focused elsewhere right now," he said.

Chaffinsaid the drop is not the result of a change in policy.

"The message is marijuana is an illegal drug, it has always been and will maintain that status until such time as it's been changed," he said."So we'll treat it that way."

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