Pubdate: September 13, 1997 Source: London Free Press Contact: POT PROBE `WORTH IT,' POLICE TELL SKEPTICS By Norman De Bono Free Press Crime Reporter As helicopters buzz loudly overhead and a swarm of police officers watch a small mountain of marijuana plants hauled from a truck, some questions are being asked. Mounties and the OPP said Friday a marijuana eradication project across Southwestern Ontario has seized 23,171 plants with a street value of $7 million and 14 people are under investigation with charges pending. But with the investigation 12 officers and two helicopters assigned to the fourweek investigation, some are questioning whether marijuana growth warrants such a costly, intensive use of shrinking police resources. "I don't think it's worth it. I wish they would concentrate those resources on hard drug investigation," London defence lawyer Ted McGrath said. "Police say there is a connection between marijuana and hard drugs, but there is little evidence to back that up." Now, the only time a jail sentence is handed out is with a crop of 20 or more pounds and that takes a lot of plants, McGrath said. But even when that occurs, judges are handing out weekend sentences, he said. People possessing small amounts of marijuana are often not even charged, getting fines or discharges instead, he said. But RCMP and OPP officials say the law is on the books and it's their job to arrest criminals. "We don't make laws, we just enforce them. We're just doing our job," said OPP Det. Sgt. Bob Martin. OPP Const. Dennis Harwood said he believes there is a lot of community support for marijuana investigations. "It's a doubleedged sword. Some people will say, `Way to go, that's great,' and others will question it. But it's the law." Helicopter use, overtime pay and additional expenses cost about $200,000. With $600,000 in police salaries, the cost of the onemonth investigation totals about $800,000, said RCMP Sgt. Marty Van Doen. "It's worth it. We have $7 million in drugs off the street and away from youths," Van Doen said. "I would hate to see marijuana decriminalized. Would we want to see another problem like alcohol abuse to deal with?" But the dollar figures police announce in connection with drug seizures are often debated in courtrooms, McGrath said. Much of a marijuana plant is not usable and half its weight in the field is moisture, meaning every 45 kilograms (100 pounds) seized from a field yields less than one pound of marijuana, he said. "In court, it is a constant debate over what the value really is," McGrath said. "There is a softening on the part of the justice system to the whole issue of marijuana. "Let's face it, most of the judges would have smoked pot when they were younger. It's silly." Londoner Chris Clay was recently sentenced to three years' probation and fined $750 after being convicted of drug trafficking and possession. As for the investigation, helicopters scoured an area from Windsor to Tobermory. They often found about 30 plants growing, in the middle of a cornfield to the farmer's surprise. Other crops were planted along river banks or in dense bush. Police made arrests after farmers and other rural residents noticed growers fertilizing and tending marijuana plants, Harwood said. WHERE PLANTS WERE SEIZED Brantford and Haldimand areas: 3,808 plants with a value of $1.1 million. Elgin, Oxford and Middlesex counties: 5,029 plants with a street value of $1.5 million. Lambton, Essex and Kent counties: 2,338 plants seized with a street value of $701,400. Huron, Grey, Perth and Wellington counties: 11,996 plants seized with a street value of $3.6 million. TOTAL: 23,171 plants seized with a street value of $6.9 million.