Pubdate: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 Source: Innisfail Province (CN AB) Copyright: 2009 Mountain View Publishing Contact: http://www.innisfailprovince.ca Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3607 Author: Dan Singleton Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing) DRUG FIGHT MUST INCLUDE MORE THAN JUST PUNISHMENT The Harper government has introduced legislation that, if passed, will impose mandatory minimum prison sentences for serious drug crimes committed in west central Alberta and everywhere else in Canada. By putting more drug offenders in jail and keeping them there longer, the government hopes to make communities safer while deterring young people from getting involved with illegal drugs in the first place. "These measures are a proportionate and measured response designed to disrupt criminal enterprise; drug producers and dealers who threaten the safety of our communities must face tougher penalties," said federal justice minister Rob Nicholson. "Mandatory prison sentences are appropriate for those who commit serious drug offences threatening our society." While no one can argue with efforts to help combat the widespread and growing problem of drug-profit fueled organized crime, any long term improvements must include more than just tougher penalties. They must also include efforts to treat the drug addictions that drive much of the crime in the first place. The proposed amendments to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) call for special penalties to be imposed when offences are carried out for organized crime purposes or if they target youth. Other amendments to the CDSA include the following: - - A one-year mandatory prison sentence for dealing drugs such as marijuana, when carried out for organized crime purposes or when a weapon or violence is involved. - - A two-year mandatory prison sentence for dealing drugs such as cocaine, heroin or methamphetamines to youth, or for dealing those drugs near a school or in an area normally frequented by youth. - - A two-year mandatory prison sentence for the offence of running a large marijuana grow operation involving at least 500 plants. - - Increased maximum penalties for cannabis production from 7 years to 14 years imprisonment. - - Tougher penalties for trafficking GHB and flunitrazepam, most commonly known as date-rape drugs. If this new legislation helps stem the rampant drug violence now becoming commonplace in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and in smaller rural communities then it certainly is welcome news. Who can argue that anyone who commits "serious drug offences threatening our society," as Minister Nicholson puts it, should be severely punished? However, judging from many recent cases in Red Deer and Didsbury provincial courts where drugs have been both the root cause and the immediate driver of offences, it's clear that any workable solutions will have to take into account both punishment and treatment. Hopefully, MPs - including area Conservative MPs Blake Richards and Earl Dreeshen - realize that once these new tougher drug amendments are passed, there will still be work to be done. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom