Pubdate: Mon, 29 Jan 2007
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2007 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Kathleen Harris
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

TORY POT POLICY 'HOT AIR'

Grit Demands Crackdown On Grow-Op 'Plague'

A Liberal MP says the Tories are all talk, no action when it comes to 
tackling the "criminal plague" of marijuana grow-ops infiltrating 
residential neighbourhoods across Canada.

Toronto MP Jim Karygiannis said there is a "resurgence" of 
large-scale pot operations, and he's pressing for a sliding-scale 
formula of stiffer sentences to combat the scourge.

The Commons justice committee had been studying proposed legislation 
before the election was called in November 2005, but the Conservative 
government has done little to fight the problem since taking office, 
he charged.

"They were screaming and yelling about it when we were there in 
government. They've been in a year and they've done nothing," 
Karygiannis said. "There was a lot of hot air when they were in Opposition."

Dramatic Increase

Justice Minister Rob Nicholson's spokesman, Genevieve Breton, 
countered that the number of marijuana grow-ops and the production of 
crack cocaine, crystal meth and ecstasy increased "dramatically" 
while the Liberals were in power. She insisted the Conservative 
government plans to follow through with a campaign pledge to combat 
illicit drugs and develop a national drug strategy that focuses on 
youth prevention.

"We intend on fulfilling our commitment, but in the immediate future 
our focus is to move our justice agenda forward in a minority 
Parliament," she said. "If the Liberals are serious about drugs and 
organized crime, they can help by passing the legislation currently 
stalled in Parliament which will make a difference."

Karygiannis plans to press for mandatory minimum sentences that would 
work on a graduated scale. More than three plants would net two years 
in jail, between 21-50 would garner a five-year sentence, 50-100 
would get seven years and more than 100 would earn a 14-year 
penitentiary lock-up, he suggested.

Karygiannis said police were making some progress to combat the 
problem, but have found lax sentences aren't enough of a deterrent to 
drive away the profitable enterprises. Grow-houses are now "rampant" 
in his riding and jeopardizing the health and safety of children and 
neighbourhoods.

"It used to be that people would buy a house and gut it out and have 
a grow-house. Now they're buying a house, living upstairs and they 
have a grow-house in the basement, so everything looks normal," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman