Pubdate: Sat, 05 Mar 2005
Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 The Calgary Sun
Contact:  http://www.fyicalgary.com/calsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67
Author: Michael Platt
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Rochfort+Bridge (Rochfort Bridge)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

GROW-OP GROWING CONCERN IN CITY

The murder of four RCMP officers at a marijuana grow operation should serve 
as a warning to Calgarians, says the alderman leading the fight against 
city pot cultivators. Ald. Diane Colley-Urquhart said the deaths could just 
as easily happen here, where police estimate there are more than 3,000 
home-based grow operations, the majority connected to organized crime.

"Something like this could happen in Calgary, and the potential for tragedy 
is there," said Colley-Urquhart, who is leading a task force dedicated to 
wiping out grow ops.

"People need to realize this is a serious problem, not some ma-and-pa 
operation -- this is big-time crime, and you never know what you'll find 
when police take down a house."

Federal Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan said yesterday the government 
is open to reviewing grow-op punishments.

"We are open to significant and potentially wide-ranging amendments," she said.

A proposed bill would provide a 14-year maximum for penalty for grow-operators.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom