Strategic Approaches to the Control and Prosecution of Marihuana Growing and Trafficking Offences

A major matter of public concern remains the unchecked relationship between the growing illicit marihuana market in parts of the country and the growing influence of dangerous criminal organizations. One of the most troubling aspects of the proliferation of marihuana cultivation and trafficking offences in a province like British Columbia is the growing involvement of criminal organizations in this sector and the magnitude of the profits they can easily generate through these low-risk, low-investment criminal activities. In this respect, the relative inability of the current criminal justice system to limit the ability of criminal organizations to conduct and benefit from these very lucrative activities is arguably the most powerful argument in favour of devising more effective approaches and strategies to control and prosecute marihuana offences. A strong case can be made for approaches that would more directly target marihuana growing and trafficking operations known to be conducted by or on behalf of criminal organizations. Even if the criminal justice system cannot be expected to neglect other aspects of its marihuana law enforcement in favour of a more targeted approach, it is obvious that targeted, intelligence-based, coordinated initiatives are required in order to produce more convincing outcomes.

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