MCLELLAN WANTS STIFFER GROW-OP PENALTIES

OTTAWA -- Canada's new pot reform laws will toughen penalties to
combat dangerous marijuana grow-ops - but judges also need a lesson
about the gravity of the crime, said Public Safety Minister Anne
McLellan. Responding to a Toronto Sun story about chronically lenient
sentences for large-scale growing operators, the deputy prime minister
said more judicial education is required.

"We need to help judges understand how absolutely serious this is -
the social costs, the economic costs and, quite truthfully, the danger
to the lives and safety of first responders when they go into these
houses," she told Sun Media. "This is not a crime that should be taken
lightly. This is not a victimless crime."

Surprised by statistics from British Columbia showing the odds of
going to jail are less than one in 100, McLellan noted the retabled
marijuana decriminalization bill doubles the maximum prison term for
grow-ops. It also requires judges to issue written reasons for not
giving a jail sentence when there are "aggravating" factors like booby
traps, repeat offences or established links to organized crime.

But Conservative justice critic Vic Toews slammed the cannabis reform
bill as "inadequate" and "more lip service than action." The so-called
crackdown is a typical Liberal ploy to give the false appearance of
tackling the problem, Toews charged.

"They know full well the courts don't even impose the present maximum
sentences," he said.

"If they're really serious about addressing the issue of grow-ops,
they need to impose mandatory minimum prison terms."

Failing to have tough mandatory minimum sentences on the books only
encourages a revolving door of criminal grow operators, who set up
shop again after just a few months behind bars.