Pubdate: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 Source: Coquitlam Now, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2005Lower Mainland Publishing Group, Inc. Contact: http://www.thenownews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1340 Author: Jennifer Saltman, Staff Reporter Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) JUSTICE CRITIC HEARS PORT COQUITLAM GROW-OP CONCERNS Marijuana grow operations were the hot topic Wednesday night when Conservative justice critic Vic Toews met with stakeholders in Port Coquitlam to talk about justice issues. Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam MP James Moore arranged the meeting, which included RCMP and representatives from three levels of government, because he wanted to gather information to use when putting forward legislation. Toews said it's one thing to talk about the problems associated with marijuana grow ops, but it's another to hear about and see the problem firsthand. "It's quite an eye-opener," Toews told The NOW Thursday. Moore took Toews on a tour of former grow-op locations in Port Coquitlam and heard that grow operations, the crimes and repercussions associated with them, and punishment of grow operators are concerns for PoCo residents. Cross-border trade in marijuana also came up - Toews said 95 per cent of marijuana grown in B.C. goes south of the border, and comes back in the form of cocaine and weapons. "This is not an innocent business endeavour," Toews said. "The lesson to be learned is putting away the individual for a significant amount of time has a great impact." That's why he's pushing for legislation to set a minimum sentence for people convicted of having grow operations. "The sense I received from the police is they're overwhelmed," Toews said. "They feel they are getting no support from the courts." Toews said raising the maximum sentence - something Liberals have talked about - won't work if the courts won't follow the lead. He said only one in 13 people convicted of serious drug offences is incarcerated. Toews said what he'll take away from the meeting in Port Coquitlam is information that will help the Conservatives develop amendments to what is already before Parliament and committees. Toews also met with stakeholders in Delta, Surrey and Maple Ridge while visiting B.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth