Pubdate: Sat, 27 Apr 2002
Source: Daily News, The (CN NS)
2-FE92755124E5}
Copyright: 2002 The Daily News
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/halifax/dailynews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/179
Author: Andrea MacDonald

POT CONSPIRACY NETS HOUSE ARREST

A cohort of former Marijuana Party candidate Michael Patriquen is now under 
house arrest for a joint pot-growing operation.

James Stewart McCurdy helped cultivate about 500 marijuana plants in what 
the Crown calls a "sophisticated" growing operation fuelled by greed.

McCurdy pleaded guilty in Nova Scotia Supreme Court to conspiring to 
possess marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. Three related counts 
against him were dismissed.

McCurdy, 41 also pleaded guilty March 8 and was fined $550 for stealing 
power and unsafe storage of a firearm. Both charges stem from the same scheme.

Yesterday, Justice Felix Cacchione gave him an 18-month conditional 
sentence for the conspiracy charge.

Police used wiretaps to track down three illegal growing sites.

Officers charged McCurdy on Feb. 28, 2000, a day after Patriquen told him 
they would split future proceeds 50-50.

They found 170 plants at McCurdy's Rawdon home in Hants County, as well as 
a drying room and a couple of shotguns.

Two other men involved in the operation received about two years each in 
prison.

Cacchione said jail time for McCurdy wasn't necessary to deter others, as 
he poses no danger to society and has turned his life around. McCurdy, who 
works as a framer, says he stopped smoking pot about 18 months ago.

Patriquen ran unsuccessfully for the Marijuana Party in Nova Scotia in the 
2000 federal election.

He pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge as McCurdy and will be 
sentenced in August.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens