POT REPORT TRIGGERS CALLS FOR TOUGHER SENTENCING

Vancouver - A report on marijuana grow operations has renewed the debate
over how the courts deal with people caught growing pot.

B.C. Solicitor General Rich Coleman says it's time to look at stiffer
sentences for people growing marijuana. "Frankly, I've not of the opinion
that we should be soft in this province on drugs."

The study of 12,000 cases shows only 2,500 of those busted were convicted.
Fewer than 500 went to jail, and most of them served sentences of less than
six months.

However, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Wally Oppal says by itself, jail does
not eliminate crime.

"All you have to do is look at the United States which imposes large
penalties and lengthy jail terms, and we know they do not have the safest
society," he says.

Oppal says criminals generally think they're not going to get caught, and
that they don't check to see what will happen if they do.