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Government Calls For Tough Action On Grow Ops
Pubdate: Sat, 19 Mar 2005
Source: Beacon Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 Parry Sound North Star
Contact: http://www.parrysoundbeaconstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3695
Author: MP Andy Mitchell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
GOVERNMENT CALLS FOR TOUGH ACTION ON GROW OPS
Marijuana grow operations pose a serious threat to our citizens, the
law enforcement officers who try to disrupt the illegal enterprises,
and the well-being of communities across the country.
This has been brought into sharper focus by the recent events in
Alberta; where four RCMP officers were shot and killed by a man
suspected of running a marijuana grow operation.
The Government of Canada has identified this problem as a priority and
remains firmly committed to combating illicit marijuana cultivation in
Canada, as well as the organized crime elements behind it. The
government is taking action on several fronts.
The Government of Canada is taking steps towards creating a tougher
legal environment for marijuana cultivation in Canada.
The Cannabis Reform Bill, currently before Parliament, includes
doubling maximum sentences for the most serious, large-scale
operations to 14 from seven years. The legislation also encourages
judges to impose tougher sentences in situations where aggravating
factors exist, including the location of grow operations in
residential areas.
In the area of law enforcement the RCMP established a National
Marijuana Grow Operations Coordinator in 2002 to ensure a consistent,
integrated approach for dealing with this national issue.
The Government has also made substantial investments to reduce the
supply of illicit drugs under Canada's renewed Drug Strategy announced
in 2003.
The strategy directed $22 million to the RCMP to establish enforcement
teams across Canada aimed at dismantling marijuana grow operations and
the organized crime groups that are behind them. These teams are
currently based in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec. Teams will
soon be established in Atlantic Canada and Ontario.
In November 2004, the RCMP hosted the first National Conference on
Marijuana Grow Operations.
This conference provided an unprecedented opportunity for partners
across Canada in law enforcement, government and the private sector to
work towards shared solutions to challenges caused by illicit
marijuana production.
The Government of Canada is also developing strong relationships with
our U.S. counterparts to combat this problem. The Canada-U.S. Cross
Border Crime Forum, created in 1997, has significantly improved
cooperation and information sharing between
Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBETs) comprised of law
enforcement and intelligence officers from both Canada and the U.S.
have been expanded into 15 regions along our shared border.
These teams have been successful in breaking up drug smuggling rings.
For instance, in March 2004 an enforcement team dismantled an
international organized crime network which was responsible for the
production and trafficking of ecstasy and marijuana in our two countries.
Addressing marijuana grow operations and their links to organized
crime is a key priority of the Federal Prosecution Service given the
widespread growth in this illegal industry. Justice officials are
working with provincial and territorial counterparts to develop and
implement effective strategies to combat marijuana cultivation across
the country.
Canada's National Drug Strategy is a comprehensive plan that will
invest $117.5 million in Partnerships and Intervention activities to
strengthen efforts in the areas of prevention, treatment, harm
reduction and law enforcement, including enforcement measures aimed at
drug traffickers and producers.
Sentencing overhaul
Sentencing judges are bound to impose sentences in accordance with
recognized sentencing principles and establishing sentencing ranges as
reflected in judicial precedents. The Federal Prosecution Service
Counsel will work to ensure that judges have the necessary information
to exercise that discretion appropriately.
Following the January 2005 meeting of federal, provincial and
territorial (FPT) ministers responsible for Justice and Public Safety,
the FPT Working Group on Sentencing was asked to analyze sentencing
reform options and report back to FPT deputy ministers in June. The
working group will be asked to include the issues of grow operations
and drug traffickers.
The Federal Prosecution Service Counsel in B.C. has been working with
the RCMP to develop a template for community-specific impact
statements to inform judges of the impacts of marijuana grow
operations on local communities.
The government is currently working towards developing a template for
these statements.
New legislation has been passed to protect front-line workers, such as
firefighters, police officers and others who face the risk of injury
or death because deadly traps have been set in places used to commit
crimes. These deadly traps are often set in residential homes being
used for marijuana grow operations. The maximum penalty is 10 years in
prison, increasing to 14 years if injury results, and life
imprisonment if death occurs.
Bill C-14 received Royal Assent on April 22, 2004.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin