New pot laws could overwhelm B.C. jails
By Contributor
The CBC is reporting that new proposed changes to minimum sentences in the “tough on crime” legislation will overfill the province’s already crowded jails.
If passed, the federal government’s new law will mean a six-month minimum sentence for anyone convicted of growing between six and 200 cannabis plants.
Growing more than 200 to 500 plants would draw a year in jail and more than 500 plants would draw a minimum two years in jail. The maximum sentences in all cases would rise from seven to 14 years in prison.
Under the legislation, there will be a one-year minimum sentence for all marijuana and cannabis trafficking offences.
The minimum sentence will rise to two years if the offence includes any of the following aggravating factors:
- For the benefit of organized crime.
- Involving use or threat of violence.
- Involving use or threat of use of weapons.
- By someone who was previously convicted of a designated drug offence or had served a term of imprisonment for a designated substance offence in the previous 10 years.
- Through the abuse of authority or position or by abusing access to a restricted area to commit the offence of importation/exportation and possession to export.
The federal government’s new crime bill, which is formally known as the Safe Streets and Communities Act, is actually made up of nine smaller bills that were introduced by the Conservative government during its minority rule, but were never passed.
The Conservatives’ election platform promised to pass the bill within 100 sitting days of Parliament, beginning on June 6, saying the new laws will target those involved in organized crime.
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