GROWING MARIJUANA WON'T SOLVE WOES, JP TELLS MAN

Growing marijuana doesn't solve economic difficulties, a justice of the
peace has told a man convicted of cultivating the plants in his home.

Justice of the Peace Dean Cameron handed 40-year-old Grover Taggart 45 days
in jail, to be served on weekends, in court Wednesday afternoon.

Last June 22, the RCMP drug squad searched Taggart's home and found 14
marijuana plants along with grow equipment, scales and bags in a rear
bedroom. They found 92.5 grams of cannabis in another room, 88 grams of
cannabis in a camper on the property and more marijuana plants in the garage.

Taggart pleaded guilty to one count of cultivation. A second cultivation
charge and a marijuana trafficking charge were stayed.

Taggart's lawyer, Jenny Reid, said the charges stem from economic difficulties.

She said Taggart hadn't worked full-time since 1991 because of a severe
diabetic condition and was living on $425 each month. He's worked in
diamond drilling part-time and hopes to get his diabetic condition under
control and be back at work, said Reid.

She noted that his last drug conviction, also for cultivation, was in 1995,
and that Taggart was willing to pay a fine and had lots of time to serve
community hours. Taggart's four prior drug convictions don't seem to have
deterred him, said Crown prosecutor Narissa Somji. She asked Cameron to
sentence Taggart to intermittent jail time and a $2,500-fine.

"It should be clear to you by now the drug thing is not going to do it for
you,"

Cameron told Taggart. "It's not going to solve your economic problems and
it's not going to solve any other problems you have.

"The way to drive that home to you is a custody sentence," said Cameron.

The justice of the peace said jail time was necessary because it's
Taggart's fifth drug conviction. The significant amount of drugs involved
is also a factor, said Cameron.