WHEREAS local police forces continue with their efforts to charge drug traffickers; AND WHEREAS these offenders are being found guilty but are given light sentences and these sentences give a message to the drug community that they are going to get away with their behaviour; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the BC government is encouraged to send a message to Ottawa so that both provincial and federal law supports stiffer penalties to all offenders in the drug trafficking community. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities wishes to see these sentences stiffened to ensure that there is a clear consequence to this behaviour.
Ministry of Attorney-General The federal government has sole jurisdiction over drug offences and the penalties associated with these offences. British Columbia recognizes that illicit drug profits are a major source of revenue for organized crime, and has taken steps to address this problem. The Province has repeatedly lobbied the federal government to address the inadequacy of penalties given to those who produce and traffic illicit drugs. The federal government has responded by proposing legislation that will increase the penalties for drug offences, including the production of large amounts of marijuana and production and trafficking of methamphetamines. British Columbia has taken a lead role in developing recommendations and an implementation plan for a national approach to addressing the spread of marijuana grow operations and illicit synthetic drug laboratories.