VIOLENCE CITED BY BOTH SIDES IN DECRIMINALIZATION CRUSADE

Abandon Notion, Klein Tells Feds

Alberta Premier Ralph Klein said Friday Ottawa should scrap any move
to decriminalize pot possession after four Mounties were shot dead
this week at a marijuana grow operation north of Edmonton.

"They should abandon any notion of decriminalization," Klein told
reporters in Calgary.

The deaths of the four RCMP officers -- killed while investigating a
suspected grow-op at a Mayerthorpe-area farm -- has sparked a national
debate about Canada's pot laws.

Conservatives like Klein joined police associations in calling for
tighter penalties for growers, while relatives of a slain officer
issued a plea for Ottawa to get tough on crime.

Pot activists, meanwhile, argued legalizing the drug could have
prevented the deaths.

The debate comes after the constables were slain Thursday at a
"significant" grow-op with 300 marijuana plants worth $300,000,
according to Klein.

In light of the deaths, he said Alberta Solicitor General Harvey
Cenaiko is preparing a report on tackling growers and organized crime
to be forwarded to the federal Liberals when it is completed next week.

The report will also call on Ottawa to increase penalties for
criminals who improperly use guns, said Klein, who noted the suspect
used a rapid-fire assault rifle.

On Friday morning, Cenaiko spoke with Deputy Prime Minister Anne
McLellan and reiterated Alberta's long-standing opposition to Ottawa's
move to decriminalize pot.

"In the wake of this tragedy, now is not the time for the federal
government to weaken illegal drug legislation," said Cenaiko in a statement.

Ottawa is proposing marijuana legislation that seeks to increase jail
sentences for growers.

The federal government's bill would eliminate criminal charges for
individuals caught with less than 15 grams of pot, instead fining
adults $150 and minors $100.

It would also impose longer maximum jail terms on growers -- as much
as 14 years for operations with 50 or more plants.

Police groups renewed calls Friday for the bill to include a minimum
sentence for grow ops and more flexibility to charge people possessing
small amounts of marijuana.

"Grow-ops are a serious officer safety problem," said Edgar MacLeod,
president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.

MacLeod and the president of the Canadian Professional Police
Association say minimum jail terms are necessary because sentences
handed to growers don't reflect the seriousness of the crime.

A 2003 study of sentences in Calgary found only one of 10 growers
received jail time upon conviction.

The family of one of the slain officers also called on government to
toughen criminal laws Friday.

Colleen Myrol, mother of victim Const. Brock Myrol, read a statement
Friday that asked government to reconsider "our liberal-minded attitude."

"Prime Minister Paul Martin, we depend on you and expect you to change
the laws and give the courts real power," she said in the statement.

"Give the Police Real Power."

Marijuana activists, however, said the Mounties were "casualties" of
the war on drugs and argued the only way to prevent further deaths is
to lower the price of pot by legalizing it.

Blair Longley, leader of the Marijuana Party, fears Thursday's deaths
will hamper government's move to decriminalize marijuana.

"It's clear that this is a big step backwards," he
said.

Criminologists said the RCMP deaths have triggered a strong emotional
reaction.

"It would be really inappropriate to create policy on this basis,"
said Neil Boyd, a criminology professor at Simon Fraser University.

McLellan pledged Friday not to rush to "quick judgment" on any
legislative changes. But she did say government is willing to
re-examine its decriminalization bill to ensure "we have it right."