Pubdate: Sun, 14 Dec 2003 Source: Surrey Leader (CN BC) Copyright: 2003 Surrey Leader Contact: http://www.surreyleader.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1236 Author: Gerald Donkersgoed PUT MINIMUM SENTENCES INTO MARIJUANA LAW A lot of us, like B. Dean, are fed up with grow-ops in our neighbourhoods. But blaming the courts for minimal sentences is letting off our federal elected officials. The current legislation does not require judges to impose a minimum sentence for a grow-op conviction, so they don't. If we as a society want to deal more effectively with grow-ops by having tougher sentences, then we need to talk to our MPs to have the law changed. The federal Liberals made a big deal of their proposed changes to the marijuana law - Bill C-38 - by proposing to double maximum sentences for grow-ops. Double nothing is still nothing. Minimum sentences need to be in law to give the judges some parameters. Talk to your Liberal nominees in the coming federal election. Bill C-38 died on the order paper. Paul Martin's new government will bring this back to Parliament. Make sure you let your MPs and nominees know how you feel to ensure it is a local issue in the federal election. And especially talk to your local municipal politicians aspiring to be Liberal MPs who are acutely aware of how frustrated Surrey residents are. Gerald Donkersgoed Surrey - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom