DRUGS DRIVE UNDERGROUND ECONOMY

B.C.'s Solicitor-General Rich Coleman says importation and exportation
of illegal guns by organized crime groups in the province is only one
aspect of an international network of violence that is funded by
marijuana grow-ops in B.C.

"Don't kid yourself that these are 'mom and pop' operations," said
B.C.'s top cop in reference to the burgeoning pot business. "Eighty
per cent of the pot grown here is exported to the U.S., and this cash
funds commodities like illegal guns."

"This province is going to go after their proceeds from crime. We'll
put the reverse onus on them to prove that their assets are not the
result of illegal activity, as we do with provincial sales tax.

"We can take it back six years," said Coleman in reference to audits
by provincial taxation authorities, which he intends to do with
convicted criminals once his proposed new legislation is adopted by
the government later this year.

Coleman said Washington State hands out incarceration for first
offences to grow-op owners and are also "more aggressive than us in
going after proceeds of crime."

His talks with federal justice authorities showed a willingness to
come down harder on grow-ops, as part of their "discussions about
decriminalizing marijuana" possession of small amounts.

He said federal proposals to fine persons in possession were not in
his opinion a conflict with his desire to get tough on growers.

However, "If we give out tickets, that's fine, but how do we collect
on this?"

He noted that 90 per cent of traffic offense tickets were collected
because they are tied to driving licences but 80 per cent of alcohol
fines remain uncollected because there is no realistic way to enforce
this law. And he said Canada already has de facto decriminalization of
possession.

"We prosecuted 1,700 cases of simple possession last year, but there
were another 12,000 cases in which the evidence was destroyed by
police and charges dropped."

Coleman said, "We need help. The police are doing a good job but
they're let down by the justice system.