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Mandatory pot sentence back

OTTAWA — The Conservative government is reintroducing a crime bill that would impose a mandatory minimum sentence for people convicted of growing as few as marijuana plants.

OTTAWA — The Conservative government is reintroducing a crime bill that would impose a mandatory minimum sentence for people convicted of growing as few as six marijuana plants.

The bill was reintroduced in the Senate as part of the government’s continued re-tabling of tough-on-crime bills that died when the last Parliament was prorogued.

The legislation specifies a six-month sentence for anyone convicted of growing six to 200 cannabis plants. More than 200 would draw a year in jail.

Justice Minister Rob Nicholson Nicholson says the bill is aimed at gangs and organized crime groups.