WAR ON POT DIVIDES CITY COUNCILLORS

Motion Calling For Stiffer Penalties For 'Home-Growers' Endorsed, But
Not Without Heated Council Debate

WATERLOO -- A divided Waterloo city council is joining a local
skirmish in the war on drugs.

Waterloo councillors last night endorsed a Kitchener motion calling
for a minimum of five years in jail for anyone caught growing
marijuana in a residence.

But two city councillors voted against the motion, questioning the
size of the problem locally, and whether the continued
criminalization of marijuana is justified.

During the past 17 months, Waterloo regional police have busted about
60 "grow operations" which by-passed normal hydro connections to get
around hydro meters and supply electricity to the powerful lamps used
to grow the plants.

Several children have been found living with parents in some of the
grow sites, and two residential fires in the past year are blamed on
"home grows."

So far, local courts have handed out conditional sentences to be
served in homes and communities, and frustrated police are waging a
public relations battle through local politicians to get stiffer
sentences.

"I talked to a police officer about this recently, and it's a huge
problem," said Coun. Scott Jones, who pushed the issue at council.
"He said that within three blocks of any place in the region you will
find one of these grow operations.

"And just after he told me that, one was found about two blocks from my house."

Local police also believe legislation should be streamlined to give
them a larger share of the proceeds of crime.

This streamlining should "include provisions to ensure that a greater
percentage of the dollars obtained at the municipal level stay with
local police services in order to augment their resources in this
area," says the motion, and "we strongly urge the federal government
to not pursue the decriminalization of marijuana."

But Coun. Morty Taylor opposed the motion, saying conflicting
messages are being given to the public because there is a talk of
de-criminalization of marijuana among some federal politicians while
some municipal councillors call for tougher penalties for growing it.

"I don't know that there is exponential growth of this activity in
the city of Waterloo, and until I know the situation I won't support
this," said Taylor.

And Coun. Brent Needham, the only other opposing vote, said during an
interview afterwards that he has to question whether the continued
criminalization of marijuana is justified.