MISSISSAUGA GOING TO POT: POLICE

Peel cops say judges must get tougher on criminals or Mississauga will
go completely to pot.

Illegal marijuana growing operations, in which innovative crooks turn
large new homes into hydroponics labs to make millions of dollars a
year from the sale of pot, are flourishing throughout Mississauga and
Brampton, two high-ranking Peel Regional Police morality bureau
officers told Region council.

Inspector Dave Van Loosen said those who operate the labs simply make
too much money from their efforts to be deterred by penalties that
amount to a slap on the wrist.

"Aggressive police enforcement won't work; it's too profitable," said
Van Loosen. "The courts right now are offering no deterrent; we're
getting conditional sentences.

"We're also getting conditional sentences for trafficking cocaine," he
added.

Acting Detective Sergeant Ian Calder, who presented to Regional
councillors a series of statistics showing the number of pot labs --
and the accompanying danger to residents, police officers and
firefighters -- to be on the rise in Peel, said the few convicted
crooks who do go to jail only spend from four to 18 months behind bars.

The remainder receive sentences in which they are allowed to return
home under specific conditions imposed to limit their freedom.

Such lenient sentences, say Mississauga Regional councillors, are
unacceptable.

"If you can make a half-million dollars and your sentence is four
months house arrest, that's a licence to grow (marijuana) as far as
I'm concerned," said Mississauga Ward 1 Councillor Carmen Corbasson.
"We have to get to the judicial system."

Mayor Hazel McCallion said the system is in dire need of
repair.

"If someone gets caught littering in Mississauga, they might get fined
more than if they had a (marijuana) grow lab," she said.

Police are convinced the only solution to the pot growing problem are
harsher sentences upon conviction.

Decriminalization of marijuana -- the federal government is
considering a move to legalize the possession of up to 30 grams of the
drug -- will not stem the tide, authorities say.

In fact, Calder said, a move to legalize the drug may help the bad
guys grow their illegal business.

"Illegal grow operations will expand based on the increased consumer
demand," he said. "This isn't a problem that's going to go away; it's
a very profitable business."

In the absence of stiff penalties, McCallion suggested to police that
City employees who move across Mississauga daily could help identify
pot houses. Parks and Recreation workers, for example, can be on the
lookout if they know what to look for, she said.

Police said in addition to increased officer training and public
education initiatives encouraging residents to keep their eyes open
for suspicious activity in their neighbourhoods, they also receive
cooperation from fire department, hydro and municipal bylaw officials.

Still, more needs to be done to fend off the danger presented by
marijuana labs, said Mississauga Ward 4 Councillor Frank Dale.

"It puts fear into a community," Dale said of the rise in pot-growing
activity. "It poses a serious health and safety risk to people. And it
affects peoples' property values as well."

Police say the pot-growing numbers are staggering and the situation is
getting worse.

Calder estimated there could be as many as 1,500 homes in Peel
currently being used to grow marijuana. In Vancouver, by comparison,
there are as many as 20,000 such operations, he added.

Last year, 234 pot labs in Peel (147 of those in Mississauga) were
busted and approximately $128 million in marijuana was seized by
police overall.

By comparison, 152 grow labs were found in Peel in 2001 (72 of those
in Mississauga) and 33 in 2000, police say.