Church of the Universe founders, Reverend Walter Tucker (75) and Reverend Michael Baldasaro (58) were today sentenced to massive jail sentences for distributing sacrament to members of their church. In addition to more than 18 months in jail each, the courts are taking their $98,000 property as an “offence-related property”. All this, for less than $100 in marijuana.

Hamilton police investigated the church, which did not sell to minors, or support organized crime, for almost a year, purchasing small amounts of marijuana 5 times before conducting a raid.

Bill C26, the Conservatives controversial drug war bill, has passed another vote in the House of Commons, advancing it to committee. Bill C26 includes mandatory minimum sentences of 6 months for people caught growing 1 marijuana plant, extending that sentence to 9 months if the plant is in a rental unit.

There have been a lot of stories circulating recently portraying grow ops as dangerous to their communities or to police; but is there any basis for these statements?

The authoritative study in this area, conducted by the RCMP Research Chair from the University College of the Fraser Valley, and paid for by the RCMP titled “Marijuana Growing Operations in British Columbia (revisted)”: http://www.ucfv.ca/pages/Special/Marihuana_Grow_Ops_in_BC_Study.pdf