OTTAWA VOWS TO WIPE OUT POT-GROWING OPERATIONS

Public Safety Minister Says Grow-Ops Are A Big Threat And Those Who
Smoke Pot Are 'Stupid'

OTTAWA -- Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan said Tuesday the
government is committed to eradicating marijuana growing operations,
and that people who smoke pot are "stupid."

"I see grow-ops as one of the single biggest problems we face in our
communities -- they do represent a serious threat to public safety,"
McLellan told Canada's first national conference on the illicit operations.

She suggested delegates at the RCMP-hosted event embrace further
integration of law-enforcement agencies to better combat large-scale
cultivators.

McLellan later denied the Liberal government's move toward
decriminalizing marijuana was counter-productive to the objectives of
the conference.

"The message, whether it's from me, whether it's from the minister of
justice, the minister of health, is that marijuana continues to be
illegal in this country, and you're pretty stupid, in most cases, if
you smoke it," McLellan said.

She further stated "the jury's still out," when it comes to the drug's
medicinal effects.

The minister pointed out to delegates Ottawa re-introduced its
cannabis reform legislation Monday, which would double the maximum
sentence for large-scale cultivation to 14 years in prison if passed.

Justices would have to submit, in writing, their reasons for not
imposing prison terms for some large-scale cultivators.

She pledged to members of the RCMP, municipal police forces, and
private-sector insurance and hydro companies that courts will get the
message about the seriousness of the situation.

RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli explained most grow houses are
not "ma-and-pa" operations, but dangerous organized crime businesses.

"We are not just talking about a simple crime," he said. "We are
talking about . . . these grow operations are related to the murders
that take place in our streets, to the serious harm that happens to
the fabric of this nation."

The RCMP estimates annual Canadian marijuana production to be between
960-2,400 metric tonnes.

Another topic likely to be raised at the conference is last week's
Supreme Court ruling that aerial-infrared surveillance doesn't
contravene the constitutional right to privacy in one's own home.

The court ruled unanimously searches could be conducted without a
warrant, because the heat-detectors' images were "mundane" and
"non-intrusive."

The RCMP's director general for drugs and organized crime said Tuesday
the ruling won't result in increased use of the devices.

"It's used judiciously, it's used with the privacy of our citizens in
mind, it's not used randomly," Chief Supt. Raf Souccar said. "We
welcome the decision. The decision will help us get our job done with
greater ease."

Souccar said it's difficult to estimate the number of growing
operations in Canada, but put the number in the Greater Toronto Area
at about 10,000.