A 55-year-old Gibsons woman was handed down a four-month jail sentence recently for her part in a marijuana grow operation.
Jacqueline Brown pleaded guilty to the charge of production of a controlled substance and was given the jail sentence March 16 in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver.
Sunshine Coast RCMP released the information this week and say they see the sentence as a change from the way courts in the past have dealt with drug cases.
"This jail term was ordered despite the fact that Brown had absolutely no criminal record," said Sgt. Gerry Webb. "The Supreme Court Judge in the case explained that in the past courts have attempted to deal with the issue of marijuana grow operations by way of fines, but they have come to realize the monetary gains from marijuana grow operations are too great for a fine to have any deterrent effect. As a result, the courts have realized a jail term may be a more appropriate and effective sentence, even in first offences."
On March 11, 2004, RCMP conducted a search warrant on Brown's home in Gibsons. A marijuana grow operation was located. Police found less than 200 plants.
Webb said he sees this recent sentence as "a shift in the pendulum."
"This is a positive outcome as far as we're concerned," said Webb. "It shows that maybe the courts are finally seeing that fines are not the answer when it comes to drug cases. It sends a clear message. If you're going to deal drugs and start these kinds of illegal operations, you better be prepared to go to jail."
