Pubdate: Tue, 27 Nov 2007 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2007 Southam Inc. Contact: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n1365/a07.html Author: Tim Meehan NEW DRUG LAWS 'GUARANTEED TO FAIL' Re: Justice Minister Responds, letter to the editor, Nov. 24. Justice Minister Rob Nicholson laughably attempts to defend mandatory minimum sentences by mentioning that "the police and the judiciary will use their discretion to ... set a sentence between six months to 14 years." Mr. Nicholson, that's not discretion, and mandatory minimum sentences by their very definition remove discretion. Organized crime isn't going to be the target of these laws, it's going to be everyday, mom-and-pop basement marijuana growers. Tim Meehan, Ottawa. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom