Pubdate: Wed, 28 Nov 2001
Source: Kitchener-Waterloo Record (CN ON)
Copyright: 2001 Kitchener-Waterloo Record
Contact:  http://www.therecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225
Author: Liz Monteiro

BID TO STOP POT GROWERS WINS PRAISE

A resolution by Kitchener council urging a crackdown on pot-growers in 
Waterloo Region is getting resounding support from other politicians and 
police officials.

"It would go a long way to stop them," said Staff Sgt. Ray Massicotte, head 
of the drug squad of the Waterloo regional police.

At council earlier this week, Coun. Berry Vrbanovic suggested the federal 
and provincial governments work together to impose a mandatory five-year 
prison sentence for people charged with growing marijuana in a family home.

Council supported the recommendation and others such as giving more of the 
proceeds seized from home-grow operations to local police to fight drugs 
and giving fire officials more power to inspect homes growing dope.

Police Chief Larry Gravill said yesterday a significant deterrent is needed 
for those charged with growing marijuana in residential neighbourhoods.

Gravill said he supports a five-year sentence, but he says he's a realist 
and it may not be doable. "To leap to five years would require graduated 
steps," he said. "It can't happen overnight."

Local judges have recently been sentencing indoor pot growers to house arrest.

Cambridge MPP Gerry Martiniuk said yesterday he supports tougher penalties. 
Stringent sentences may "be enough to scare the fringe operators," he said.

"Up until now, ordinary police methods have not prevented this (home-grow 
operations) and the only alternative is higher penalties," he said.

Kitchener Centre MP Karen Redman said she's not prepared to support a 
five-year sentence. However she believes a mandatory sentence of some kind 
needs to be established.

Police in the region have busted 60 home-grow operations and suspect 
another 200 homes are actively growing dope.

"Quite frankly right now you've got a $1-million operation and your 
punishment is 100 days at home. What's the punishment?" Vrbanovic said 
yesterday.

"These pot-growing operations are causing significant cost to our 
communities and its safety and well-being," he said.

Vrbanovic said a fire two weeks ago in a home on Westheights Drive where 
marijuana was being grown prompted him to speak out.

Also, deadly booby traps such as trip wires and detonation devices have 
been found in pot-growing houses elsewhere in the province.

Massicotte said he supports tougher penalties and says Canada could learn 
from its neighbour south of the border.

According to statistics from the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, the 
minimum penalty for a first-offender convicted of growing between 100 and 
999 plants is five years.

A second-time offender gets a minimum sentence of 10 years.

Massicotte said the number of grow operations has not yet reached the 
numbers in British Columbia, but "we are following in their footsteps."

He said in B.C., there have been shootings in residential neighbourhoods, 
and home invasions where "one faction tries to steal another faction's 
product."

Lynn Myers, Waterloo-Wellington MP and parliamentary secretary to the 
Solicitor General, said penalties for marijuana growers need to be decided 
in consultation with police, judges and parole officers, before "arbitrary" 
terms can be set.
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