TARGETING GROWERS

1 IN 5

Children were found in one in five (21 per cent) growing operations raided
by Vancouver police in 2003.

IN B.C., EVEN REPEAT OFFENDERS ESCAPE JAIL

While marijuana growers with lengthy criminal records are more likely to be
sent to jail, repeat offenders still usually avoid jail time unless they
have nine or more prior convictions for drug trafficking or marijuana growing.

FEWER CHARGED IN RECENT YEARS

Between 2000 and 2003 in B.C., the number of people charged with growing
marijuana fell dramatically.

1997: 1,185

1998: 1,318

1999: 1,987

2000: 2,116

2001: 1,164

2002: 918

2003: 798

COASTAL COMPARISON

B.C. growers would find a much different sentencing approach if they were
arrested south of the border. Washington state has strict guidelines that,
if applied in B.C., would result in far more growers heading to prison.

NUMBER OF PRIOR CONVICTIONS AND % SENT TO PRISON

1: 11%

2: 19%

3: 24%

4: 27%

5: 43%

6: 31%

7: 25%

8: 43%

9+: 54%

WHO GROWS MARIJUANA?

A new study on marijuana growing operations in B.C. reveals several facts
about the types of people involved in the marijuana trade

77% of suspects are male

The average age of growers is 35

54% of suspects are Caucasian

The second-largest ethnic group is Vietnamese: 36%

47% of all suspects have a prior criminal record.

41% have a prior conviction for a violent offence

22% have a prior conviction for marijuana cultivation.

Those with a criminal record average this many prior convictions: 7