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Cannabis Cultivation in Canada

Cannabis Cultivation in Canada. Serge Brochu, Ph.D Valérie Beauregard, Doctorate Student. Cannabis cultivation in Canada. 1923/1938. Illicit drug use prevalence (12 months ) in Canada from 1989 to 2004. (Enquête sur les toxicomanies au Canada, 2004). Genetic modifications.

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Cannabis Cultivation in Canada

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  1. Cannabis Cultivationin Canada Serge Brochu, Ph.D Valérie Beauregard, Doctorate Student

  2. Cannabis cultivation in Canada 1923/1938

  3. Illicitdrug use prevalence (12 months) in Canada from 1989 to 2004 (Enquête sur les toxicomanies au Canada, 2004)

  4. Genetic modifications Marijuana plants, hidden in a field of pumpkin Leafs transformation Source: Chartrand, Sûreté du Québec, 2007

  5. New process and equipment Vertical hydroponic greenhouse Rotating garden with central light Source: Chartrand, Sûreté du Québec, 2007

  6. Indoors production is rising Large number of private households 24X fire hazard Electricity stolen: 2 781$ (Plecas et al., 2002) Link between organized crime and real estate: Some individuals known for their criminal involvement started an official career as realtors The presence of hydroponics shops is vital to indoors culture Link between criminal organizations and hydroponics culture Some individuals involved in criminal networks become legal facilitators: they provide an easy access to the necessary equipment and give information on its proper use Indoor/outdoor production Types of plantation Quebec, 2004 Source: Chartrand, Sûreté du Québec, 2007

  7. Cannabis producers: good customers for the hydroponics market Hydroponics shops Cannabis production cases Large Increase No increase of production in the food industry??? Does not necessarily incriminate retailers 93 new shops • Bouchard & Dion (2007)

  8. More sophisticated regardless of the type of producers Large networks Small producers Advantages: Year-long production High quality product (higher THC content) Higher yield per plant (Bouchard & Dion, 2007) Hidden from police forces and thefts (Department of Public Safety, 2004) Indoors production Source: Chartrand, Sûreté du Québec, 2007

  9. Production / Importation in Canada Real cases

  10. Production / Importation in Canada The Canadian market is mainly supplied by locally grown cannabis 2003: 95 % of cannabis seized in Canada was of domestic origins (RCMP, 2004) The annual production of cannabis ranges from 960 to 2 400 tons Produced mainly in Quebec British Columbia Ontario(Department of Public Safety, 2004) A fraction of the market comes from the outside 2000 – 2003: Canada seized 7.8 metric tons 16 % of this quantity came through or from the United States 2000-2003: American and foreign authorities seized 4.3 metric tons destined to Canada 30% came through or from the United States Source: Department of Public Safety, 2004

  11. British Columbia 1997 - 2003 Souce: Plecas, Malm and Kinney, 2005 • Average number of plants per grow: • 1997: 149 • 2003: 236 • Average harvest per marihuana grow: • 1997: 2.4 kilos • 2003: 7.2 kilos • 1/5 grow operations = theft of electricity. • more than $3,200,000 from BC Hydro in 2003.

  12. Cannabis production by province Real Cases

  13. Exportation Canada / United States Majority of marijuana found in the United States: Mexico Colombia Canada is becoming more and more an important source of supplies for the United States 2001 : 4 metric tons 2002 : 12.2 metric tons 2003 : 15.8 metric tons Seized at US borders (Department of Public Safety,2004) 30-70% of the Canadian production is thought to be exported to the United States Cannabis is mainly exported in the form of cuttings, and is generally more potent than other forms of marijuana

  14. Exportation Canada / United States Involvement in mass production of cannabis Majority of Canadian criminal organizations • Mainly bikers gangs Asian organized crime • Introduced in Canada Local/American market (Chartrand, SQ, 2007; RCMP, 2005)

  15. British Columbia 1997 – 2003Organized crime groups • Co-exist peaceably • acts of violence have increased with the expansion of the marihuana trade • Example - Richmond B.C • 3 ½ months - 10 home invasions in housed marihuana grow operations • For the most part - related to failed drug transactions and/or money owed, as opposed to perceived areas of “turf.” Source: RCMP, 2005

  16. Money Laundering and marihuana • The cross-border movement of marihuana to the U.S. • Abundance of U.S. currency in Canada • Currency exchange businesses wittingly or unwittingly convert these proceeds into Canadian funds. • Currency exchange is also conducted in a black market environment. • Several remittance offices specialize in laundering marihuana proceeds. • Marihuana traffickers also resort to traditional means of laundering such as casinos, monetary instrument purchases or electronic funds transfers on the international market Souce: RCMP, 2005

  17. -- Canada’s pot policy under fire from U.S -- Globe and mail (Toronto), September 13, 2002 "The problem today is that Canadian production of high-potency marijuana in British Columbia is a major source of marijuana [in the United States] . . . and it's spreading."

  18. Facts on THC contentCanada Headlines news: Canadian marijuana = superior quality Average THC content: 20 % and more Facts: Average THC content: 2001: 8.7 % 2002: 8.3 % 2003: 9.6 % Highest content: 30% - 2000 THC ≥ 20%: 0.5% (15 000 samples) Canada can produce very high-potency cannabis, but it is not the norm Source: Department of Public Safety, 2004

  19. -- Decriminalization will cause border delays, hurt economy, Alliance critic says: Tighter border security National Post, Monday, December 16, 2002 " […] the United States is already alarmed that 95% of the marijuana grown in British Columbia is sent south of the border. The growers are largely Vietnamese organized crime groups who have moved into Ontario and Quebec to supply the U.S. market with high-potency and high-quality marijuana "

  20. -- U.S Frets Canada May Ease Marijuana Law -- New York Times, December 12, 2002 " Liberalizing laws will boost drug use and bring more pot into the United States, said John Walters, director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy. Canada is already a major source of marijuana for the United States, with an estimated $2.5 billion worth smuggled in each year, Walters said Thursday. "

  21. Law regulating drugs and other substances: cultivation Canadian Criminal Code. Criminal offence liable to a maximum jail sentence of 7 years New bill: 500 seedlings or more = Minimal jail sentence of 2 years

  22. Actions against cannabis production in Canada Since 1989: The RCMP and the Ministry of National Defence repress outdoors production of cannabis during growth season The RCMP benefits from the aerial support of the Canadian Air Force to locate cannabis seedlings in fields RCMP seizures: 2000 : 1 102 198 seedlings 2001: 1 367 321 seedlings 2002: 1 275 738 seedlings 2003: 1 400 026 seedlings Growing preoccupation toward indoors production, sophisticated installations, and control by criminal organizations Source: RCMP, 2005)

  23. Actions against cannabis production in Canada • Anonymous public complaints rather than proactive repression • Landlords • Neighbours • Hydro electricity services • High volume of cannabis cultivation = reduced police capacity to respond to complaints Source: Plecas et al., 2002

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