SLAYINGS RENEW DEBATE OVER GROW OPS, DECRIMINALIZATION OF POT

OTTAWA -- Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan says she'll consider tougher
penalties for marijuana grow operations in the wake of Thursday's tragic
shooting of four Alberta Mounties.

McLellan took time out from the Liberal convention to say she and Justice
Minister Irwin Cotler will review their proposed marijuana
decriminalization bill to see whether it goes far enough in dealing with
growers.

"Clearly Minister Cotler and I will want to take a look at whether we have
the right resources being used in the right ways and whether we have the
right laws," she said.

RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli went further, suggesting it's time
not just to crack down on grow ops, but also to re-examine the idea of
decriminalizing simple possession of small amounts of pot.

"We don't solve anything in society by legalizing things or by pretending
they're not harmful to society," Zaccardelli told a Parliament Hill news
conference.

"If any good comes out of this tragedy, it's that we will reflect on some
of these issues and, as Canadians, we may look at it from a different
perspective."

Prime Minister Paul Martin joined McLellan in offering condolences to the
families of the slain officers.

"This terrible event is a reminder of the sacrifice and bravery of the men
and women who serve in our national police force," Martin said in a
statement. "Canadians are shocked by this brutality and join me in
condemning the violent acts that brought about these deaths."

Martin was kept informed of developing events during several phone
conversations Thursday with Zaccardelli. The prime minister was expected to
call for a moment of silence today before delivering a speech to the party
convention.

The RCMP deaths are sure to inflame debate this weekend at the Liberal
gathering, where two resolutions dealing with pot laws are on the agenda.

One proposal from Alberta Liberals would see marijuana legalized and taxed.
"Legalizing marijuana would be a serious blow to drug dealers and organized
crime financially," says the resolution.

Another proposal, from British Columbia, asks for stiffer sentences for
those involved in grow ops.

Earlier Thursday, Liberal MP Dan McTeague said the deaths highlight the
need for tougher penalties. He called for minimum four-year sentences for
marijuana growers.

"This has gone too far, it's not a laughing matter," said McTeague. "We
have legislation that may have the unintended effect of increasing
marijuana grow operations.

"I think it's now time for Parliament to target marijuana grow operations,
shut them down."

The bill before the Commons, first proposed under former prime minister
Jean Chretien and reintroduced by Martin's government in November, would
make possession of up to 15 grams of pot punishable by a fine of $150 for
adults and $100 for minors.

The aim would be to avoid saddling minor offenders, especially youths, with
criminal records that could dog them for the rest of their lives.

The bill also provides that growers caught with more than three plants
would face up to five years in jail, or 18 months plus a $25,000 fine.
Anybody with more than 25 plants could face 10 years in jail, while there
would be maximum sentences of up to 14 years for operations with more than
50 plants.

McLellan dodged the question Thursday of whether minimum sentences are also
needed to deter growers.

She conceded police need more help.

"There is a resource issue. But I think there's also an issue around, do we
have the right laws in place? Have we given the RCMP and other forces the
right tools they need to deal with what is an amazing growth, quite
truthfully, in these operations."

McLellan called grow ops a fast-spreading "scourge."

Zaccardelli said police can always use more help to fight an escalating
battle against pot producers.

"The issue of grow ops is not a ma-and-pa industry as we've been saying for
a number of years. They are major, serious threats to our society and they
are major, serious threats to the men and women on the front line who have
to deal with them.

"They are booby-trapped, they are high-risk issues and major, organized
crime in many cases is involved.

"This is really a plague in our society."