Qu?bec Criminal Court, 8 October 2002
Laurent Turcotte, 54, pleaded guilty to production of marijuana and firearms offences. The market value of the 123 plants and 976 grams of dried marijuana seized was estimated at $383,000. He had no criminal record.
The Court remarked on the burgeoning marijuana industry in Qu?bec: an increase of 62.5% between 1997 and 2000. In 1993, the S?ret? du Qu?bec eradicated 74,806 plants; in 2000, 394,588, resulting in 373 and 1,398 prosecutions, respectively. Turcotte received an 18-month conditional sentence, community service and probation.
