Pubdate: Wed, 27 Nov 2002
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2002, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: David Gamble

FEDS RECEIVE POT-SHOT OVER GROW HOUSES

OTTAWA -- Criminals are getting off too easily as neighbourhoods across 
Canada are endangered by huge secret pot-growing operations, police groups 
charged yesterday.

And the Liberal government's possible decriminalization of marijuana will 
only make things worse, charged David Griffin, executive director of the 
Canadian Police Association.

Griffin and others called on the federal government to beef up the Criminal 
Code and impose minimum jail time for those convicted of turning 50,000 
Canadian homes into marijuana "grow houses" - including an estimated 10,000 
in the Toronto area.

The operations, which often generate up $500,000 per year per house, are 
mainly controlled by crime gangs and much of the marijuana is smuggled into 
the United States.

"We'd like to see some minimum sentences to give judges direction that this 
is a serious crime," Griffin said.

"In B.C. (these offenders) are literally walking away."

If Justice Minister Martin Cauchon follows through and actually 
decriminalizes pot, that would further dilute the seriousness of the 
offence of running a grow house, Griffin argued.

His call for action came just days after a series of police raids across 
Canada - code-named Operation Greensweep 3 - netted more than 73,000 plants 
valued at $73 million.

Grow houses are fire hazards because of heavy lighting, police and fire 
officials say.

They use an average of $1,500 worth of electricity stolen from local 
utilities by bypassing meters.

And they are filled with chemical fumes and mould.

"It's quite discouraging for law enforcement when we are seeing conditional 
sentences and even fines," said Sgt. Mike Laviolette, an Ottawa police 
officer seconded to the Criminal Intelligence Service of Canada.

Det. Mike Klimm of York Regional Police said sentences for possession for 
the purpose of trafficking and production of a controlled substance run 
between seven and 15 years in the United States.

"Up until recently in Ontario we were getting conditional sentences like 
house arrest," Klimm said.

"We're now starting to see real jail terms of from nine months to a year 
for first offences.

"They're starting to understand. The judiciary is listening," KIimm said.

Cauchon denied that any decriminalization of marijuana would condone grow 
houses and he suggested a move to minimum sentences was not favoured by 
provincial justice ministers.
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