Posted on 03/04/2005 4:15:11 PM PST by Clive
Pot grow ops a 'scourge': McLellan
OTTAWA (CP) -- Marijuana production is a violent, organized scourge that judges should combat with serious sentences, says Justice Minister Anne McLellan.
All of society bears responsibility for recognizing the national boom in grow operations that are typically backed by organized crime, McLellan said Friday.
Judges who don't penalize traffickers accordingly should be called to account, she said, one day after four Mounties were killed during a raid on an Alberta grow op that went horribly wrong.
"I would say that all of us -- including the judiciary -- need to understand what is at stake here. And I think yesterday was a horrible and tragic reminder."
Judges who don't put major producers behind bars will have to offer reasons under proposed legislation now before Parliament that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of pot, McLellan said.
"Where there are aggravating circumstances and there is no jail time, you explain to the people who live in your community, that you serve, you explain to them why you did not believe jail time was appropriate in light of aggravating circumstances."
McLellan denied that she believes judges have been too soft on pot growers -- a common police complaint.
"I'm not saying that. As a society we all bear responsibility to take this particular crime very seriously."
McLellan spoke at the Liberal policy convention where delegates will debate a resolution -- from the Alberta wing of the party -- to legalize pot. She dismissed any chance that the minority government will move in that direction.
"This government does not support the legalization of marijuana. We've been quite clear about that."
Is it constitutional to ban abortion? Or should it be up the states?
Wouldn't there need to be an amendment to ban it?
Roe v. Wade should be overturned and yes, it should be left up to the states to set their own laws. That's the point I've been trying to make about drugs. If it were left upp to the states, I would personally hope that my state continues to prosecute for most currently illegal drugs (but not marijuana).
Wouldn't there need to be an amendment to ban it?
That would be even better. Absent an amendment, though, banning aboriton at the congressional level would, in fact, be unconstitutional.
Well, at least your a consistent anti-federalist. That whole idealogy pretty much died after the civil war though. Sorry.
The New Deal helped too. :-(
At the same time they are not for self illegal drug medicating either. They just don't perhaps like to see the expenses.
But, much of the expenses are covered by confiscation of the property of the drug dealers and heavy users, and with illegal drugs many times financing the terrorism against us, I can't see us making major changes in policy unless some great new idea emerges.
Bottom line, illegal recreational drug usage is staying criminal.
Adhering to the letter of the Constitution is an "ideology" in your book? Some "conservative" you are.
Do you have any numbers to back that up?
and with illegal drugs many times financing the terrorism against us
Which can happen only because drug prices are inflated by their illegality.
Whatever dude, you don't know what you're talking about. You are consistently weird and stupid. Lay off the drugs.
You have one hell of a weird idea of conservatism, and I want no part of your imaginary weirdness. Stop pinging me.
you don't know what you're talking about.
Nice comeback.
Thanks, you deserved no less. Now leave me alone.
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