Canada turns over new leaf: Government cracks down on marijuana

By Daniel Sandiford
Collegian Editor
March 22, 2006

Canada’s new conservative government has turned its sight on addressing the increasing marijuana problem of the country. In the far west providence of British Columbia, sources estimate that $6.1 billion each year is generated from the illegal substance.

The Canadian government is making the claim that the rise in organized crime is a result of this increase in marijuana or cannabis production. They have vowed to crack down on the growers with tougher penalties and more widespread enforcement.

British Columbia saw the start of the marijuana business during the Vietnam War, as thousands of U.S. citizens fled to the country to avoid being drafted. The industry has changed over the decades though, as many “grow ops” have started to use indoor facilities to produce a stronger crop of the drug.

The industry has seen a large increase in the number of growers over the past 10 years. The number of cultivation cases has risen from 3,400 in 1994 to nearly 8,000 in 2004. Many experts believe that the industry is massive and only growing larger. They point out that even a major seizure of marijuana in the region has little to no effect on the street value of the drug.

Canadian law enforcement officials believe that most of the large “grow ops” are directly connected to organized crime. They warn that the growing of marijuana has reached a point “that could be deemed epidemic in the provinces of B.C., Ontario and Quebec.”

Critics of the government point out that there have been many failures by law enforcement to break up these drug rings. They also raise the argument that public opinion is in favor of legalizing the use of marijuana.

“Cannabis is the biggest issue facing law enforcement now,” says Inspector Paul Nadeau of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). He went on to say that smugglers have access to “transport vehicles, planes, helicopters. The sky’s the limit.”

Nadeau also pointed out that greater deterrents are needed in order to crack down on the drug growers. Currently in British Columbia, only 10 percent of those convicted of a drug-growing violation actually face jail time.

Critics of the crackdown believe that the program is destined for failure. They cite failed experiences in the past.

Stephen Easton, professor of economics and a senior scholar at the conservative Fraser Institute, believes that marijuana is harmful.

“But has criminalisation been successful in deterring consumption? The answer is surely ‘no,’” he says.

Recent surveys have also shown that there is an increase in the number of Canadians trying marijuana, and large numbers of them want to legalize the drug.

“There have been studies galore in Canada and elsewhere looking at this issue, it’s politics that’s stopping [a change in drug laws] and not logic,” says lawyer Eugene Oscapella, a founding member of the independent Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy. He goes on to suggest that Canada is doing this because it is afraid to go against U.S. policy on drugs.

It is estimated that 85 percent of the marijuana grown in British Columbia ends up in the United States.

“Parents and police officers agree the last thing we need is more drugs on the streets,” says the Ministry of Justice’s acting communications director Patrick Charette.

“Rather than simplifying and having a more relaxed approach, we think you need to enforce the law and make sure those caught with drugs and producing drugs pay the price,” Charette said.

sandifordd1@lasalle.edu
Information gathered from www.bbc.com