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
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom