cannabisnews.com: Canada Ranks Third Supplying U.S. Pot Canada Ranks Third Supplying U.S. Pot Posted by CN Staff on November 03, 2002 at 09:02:46 PT By Antonella Artuso -- Sun Media Source: Edmonton Sun Canada is third only to Mexico and Colombia as a supplier of high-grade marijuana to the United States market, Public Safety and Security Commissioner Bob Runciman says. "That's not something to be proud of," Runciman told Sun Media. "We can see the United States wanting us to play a more active role in dealing with this." Runciman will push the federal government to bring in minimum sentences for pot house operators when he meets with his federal and provincial justice ministers in Calgary this week. Runciman said local police officers cite "catch and release justice" as a key problem in the proliferation of pot houses. Police suspect there are more than 100 grow houses in Peel Region alone. Operators usually rent houses, steal hydro and leave the place in shambles and a fire hazard. Offenders in the United States are usually handed stiff jail terms, but it's not unusual in Ontario for convicted growers to get a conditional sentence or short jail term. "If you look at some of the penalties versus the potential profits ... it's a high profit-low risk business," Runciman said. "Somebody described it as a plague." Organized crime, especially bikers, are believed behind many of the grow houses. Police estimate that indoor marijuana growing is a $1 billion-a-year business in Ontario and the province's third-largest agricultural cash crop. Police services in Ontario executed about 160 warrants for marijuana growing in 2000, and 650 warrants the following year. Runciman said police services are becoming reluctant to put in the time-consuming work required to bust a pot lab when the grower gets such a relatively light sentence. It's estimated a small crop of 50 plants will yield annual profits of $55,000. Offenders can get 60 to 90-day jail sentences but more typically a conditional sentence. An average size crop of 300 plants can net its grower $350,000 annually and a jail sentence of up to nine months. But it's not unusual to get a conditional sentence. The penalty for someone caught with a large crop of 20,000 plants, which can produce $30 million annually, is an 18-month jail term. Runciman said the sentences are far less severe than in the United States, where drug crimes can net the offender a life term. Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Author: Antonella Artuso -- Sun MediaPublished: Sunday, November 3, 2002 Copyright: 2002 Canoe Limited PartnershipContact: sun.letters ccinet.ab.ca Website: http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtmlRelated Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmCanada High On Pot Listhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14646.shtmlU.S. Pot War Comes Northhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11937.shtmlLondon Joins National Drug Busthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11888.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by culebra on November 03, 2002 at 18:12:50 PT I think the key phrase is "high quality". Since most Mexican and Colombian is overprocessed and therefore largely lacking in potency, I am betting that Canada is really the #1 importer of tha killa . Theis is sort of a moot point, though, in light of the enormous amount of highly potent cannabis grown right here in Amerika."If you look at some of the penalties versus the potential profits ... it's a high profit-low risk business," Runciman said. "Somebody described it as a plague." Typical garbage-like if your neighbor grows weed you catch the plague and BAM! you're growin too!"That's not something to be proud of," Runciman told Sun Media.Too true-Keep shootin' for #1 Canucks!!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by observer on November 03, 2002 at 17:45:31 PT Stand Tall, Canada! re: Public Safety and Security Commissioner Bob Runciman says. "That's not something to be proud of," Runciman told Sun Media.Sure it is, ya two-bit statist. The Canadian people are blazing trails for freedom. Their struggles for freedom put pressure on the US to pay more than lip service to their (stated) ideals of freedom and liberty. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by canaman on November 03, 2002 at 10:19:12 PT CANADA BEWARE!!! Mandatory Minimums and Asset Forfeiture may by coming to a town near you! Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) http://www.famm.org/index2.htmForfeiture Endangers American Rights Foundation (FEAR) http://www.fear.org/ [ Post Comment ] Post Comment