CHIEF ALLAYS MCLELLAN'S POT FEARS

Federal Justice Minister Anne McLellan's concern over pot farms in Edmonton
appears to have been nipped in the bud by police Chief John Lindsay.

McLellan, MP for Edmonton West, had a meeting with the chief yesterday and
left satisfied the growth in hydroponic marijuana operations in the city is
not out of control.

"In Western Canada right now there is some increase in the number of
cultivation operations and clearly that's something that the Edmonton
police force and other police agencies are watching very carefully," she
said.

"But at this point, there does not appear to be any necessity for any
change in the law."

City police told reporters last week that Edmonton pot growers are
producing such high-quality weed that it's now being exported south of the
border and even into Mexico, itself a prolific pot exporter.

"It's a big problem in the city and it's a big problem in the province,"
drug unit boss Staff Sgt. Nick Bok said at the time - although a police
spokesman later downplayed the concern.

News of Bok's comments reached McLellan in Ottawa, prompting her to set up
a meeting with Lindsay to discuss her concerns during a trip home for
Easter.

"The chief and I discussed it this morning and clearly, where these
operations exist, the police are working hard to identify them and deal
with the people involved," McLellan said after the meeting yesterday.

"But I didn't get a sense from the chief that Edmonton is out of line with
other communities, and certainly not out of line with other western
Canadian communities, in relation to this issue."

Police spokesman Sgt. Bryan Boulanger confirmed yesterday that Lindsay and
the justice minister met, but would not discuss details of their chat.

"They discussed issues of mutual concern," Boulanger said. "But (the chief)
didn't wish to make a comment with respect to their private conversation."