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01/21/07
Drug Trafficker Gets Off Easy
By Lee Hanlon
On October 19, 2006, 44 year old Edmund Ross Redhead was convicted of possession of Marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, and with unlawfully producing marijuana.
BC Provincial Court Judge Hood sentenced Redhead to two and a half years of incarceration and a lifetime order prohibiting the accused to possessing firearms. Justice Hood also ordered a forfeiture of property owned by the accused.
The news media claims that this was a harsh sentence, even former Federal Conservative Member of Parliament, Randy White stated that this was a good sentence.
My position is otherwise.
Section 5 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (cdsa) states that:
(3) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2)
(a) subject to subsection (4), where the subject-matter of the offence is a substance included in Schedule I or II, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for life.
In some countries, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, under the Islamists law, known as the Shari’A, capital punishment is the sentence.
This is not the first time Redhead has been convicted of drug related offences. Redhead has 3 previous drug related conviction which included possession of a narcotic for the purpose of trafficking and cultivation of marijuana.
The sentences in those matters ranged from 60 days, 4 years, and 1 year plus a 1 year probation. Redhead has been involved in narcotic activities for 26 years.
When Redhead had been arrested on the latest matter he had in his possession 59 three foot marijuana plants with a value of $35,000 to $40,000. Also in his possession at time of arrest, were a number of zip-locked bags containing marijuana.
Two and a half years is still only a slap on the wrist! Drug dealers and drug traffickers, no matter the drug, must be given the maximum sentence. Judges also must be held accountable for their lenient sentencing policies.
But so long as judges can hide behind their so-called independent judiciary policy they will be virtually untouchable.
To be successful in justice reforms we first must make judges accountable, then make the necessary reforms on sentences for drug related offences.
What say you?