TOUGHER GROW-OP CONSEQUENCES ENDORSED BY TOWNSHIP

Port Coquitlam wants tougher legal consequences for marijuana grow
operators, and a majority of Langley Township councillors agree. But
veteran Councillor Muriel Arnason said tougher jail sentences are not
the answer.

She explained that her late son John had use marijuana medicinally, on
a prescription, and it was "good medicine." Arnason argued that only
way to stop grow operations was to "take the profit out."

Council on Dec. 13 received a letter from Port Coquitlam Mayor Scott
Young, who cited a study on grow-op risks, done earlier this year by
University College of the Fraser Valley professor Daryl Plecas.

Plecas' identified risk factors posed to communities by grow-ops
included: nine per cent of all house fires caused by grow-ops; a risk
of home invasions; the risk to children, both indirect, sale of drugs
and direct, living in the grow-ops; expansion into other operations,
including a growing number of methamphetamine labs.

Current legal penalties to grow operators provides insignificant
deterrent, with minimal fines in relation to potential profits, little
or no jail time and a "revolving door scenario" for police, and wasted
municipal tax dollars," wrote Mayor Young.

The letter is addressed to federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler.

"The situation is at a crisis level and we ask that you take action to
increase the legal consequences . . . including the legislation of
minimum significant fines and/or minimum jail time for convicted
persons," Young asks the justice minister.

Councillor Grant Ward moved that the Township support Port
Coquitlam.

"I think any way we can increase the consequences of this would make a
difference," agreed Councillor Steve Ferguson, seconding the motion.

"We won't have enough jails for everybody," said Arnason, advising it
would be easier to make marijuana unprofitable. "I'm just asking for a
little compassion and understanding," she said.

"This is grow-ops," said Mayor Kurt Alberts.

Ward argued that the profits come primarily from sales into the United
States.

"I don't think making marijuana legal shows any leadership," Ward
said.

Council voted to support Port Coquitlam's position, with Arnason and
Councillor Kim Richter opposed.

The Port Coquitlam mayor's letter has also been sent to Premier Gordon
Campbell, the office of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
B.C., the Provincial Court of B.C., the RCMP's Lower Mainland
Commander Gary Forbes, and all mayors and councillors in the Greater
Vancouver Regional District.