SENATE WON'T CHANGE DRUG BILL

Targets Pot Growers

Controversial Sentencing Bill Was Amended Once, but Not on This
Second Time Around

OTTA WA - The Senate has backed away from a fight with the
Conservative government over a controversial drug-sentencing bill
that would automatically imprison offenders caught growing five or
more marijuana plants.

One year after the upper house watered down proposed legislation by
raising the bar to more than 200 plants, a new version of the bill is
once again before the Senate and the chamber of sober second thought
has decided that the previous amendment would never survive a final
vote among MPs.

"It was irrational," conceded Liberal Sen. George Baker. "It wasn't
going to fly with the Conservatives and it wasn't going to fly with
the Liberals."

A Senate-Commons tug of war over the bill -to impose mandatory
minimum sentences for drug crimes for the first time in Canada -
began more than a year ago, when the Liberals in the upper chamber
enraged Justice Minister Rob Nicholson by altering his bill so that
anyone caught with six to 200 pot plants would not go to jail.

The bill was in its final stages when it died after Prime Minister
Stephen Harper prorogued Parliament last December.

Nicholson revived his proposed legislation in the spring, but ignored
the Senate amendment and set the bar back at his original five plants.

The bill was reintroduced in the Senate, which is currently reviewing
the proposals before it sends them to the House of Commons for public
hearings and a final vote.

Nicholson's proposal would impose mandatory six-month terms for
growing five or more plants with intent to sell, and one-year
sentences when marijuana-dealing is linked to organized crime or a
weapon is involved.

Sentences would increase to two years for dealing such drugs as
cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine to young people, or pushing drugs
near a school or other places frequented by youths.

Baker said reviving the Senate amendment of 200 plants was not raised
this time around. The Senate dug its heels last year simply to "make
a statement" against mandatory minimum jail terms, which he described
as "crazy."