HOW MANY DO THE COPS CATCH?

B.C. judges may have to deal with the disparity in sentencing of marijuana
growers in B.C. and Alberta says B.C. Supreme Court Jusstice Wally Oppal.

But Oppal says there is no evidence higher sentences will work.

"I agree with you that there shouldn't be an inordinate disparity," he said.
"We are going to have to get more consistent. Either Alberta is too high
or we are too low.

"But I have to ask: Is Alberta better off than we are?

"There is nothing to indicate that they are better off, other than the fact
that the police probably feel better because they are getting higher sentences.

"The police always have to remember that we have to take a balanced look at
it. It is perfectly logical for the police to be unhappy about sentences
because they do all the investigating but it's also logical to remember that
we have more than just crime to think about - we have to think about the
background of the offender or whether he has a previous record.

"Put this down: If the police want to blame the courts, I put it to the
police, how many people are they catching?"