Pubdate: Tue, 19 Feb 2002 Source: Chilliwack Progress (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 The Chilliwack Progress Contact: http://www.theprogress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/562 Author: Robert Freeman Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) UCFV STUDIES MARIJUANA GROW OPERATIONS FOR RCMP The true size and nature of marijuana grow operations in B.C. is defined in a joint study conducted by criminology students at the University-College of the Fraser Valley and UBC's International Centre For Criminal Law Reform. The study of grow operations and marijuana trafficking cases since 1997 will be handed over to the RCMP on Feb. 19. "So often we have reports about what's going on, and rumours about what's going on, and it's not based on fact," says Darryl Plecas, chairman of the criminology department at UCFV. "I'm sure people will be somewhat surprised to learn what's really going on out there." RCMP spokesperson Const. Danielle Efford says no decision has yet been reached on whether the report will be released to the public. The report was commissioned by the RCMP to get an "accurate profile" of marijuana grow operations in B.C., she says. Statistical information stored on police computers did not provide the details required to determine the true extent of the problem, she says. Mr. Plecas says he and six students reviewed crime files over the summer, visiting every law enforcement agency in B.C. including 12 municipal police offices and 150 RCMP detachments. He says the study "tracks every case as it went through the system ... from the call to police to the court disposition" to determine the "capacity" of enforcement agencies to respond to the problem. The study also looks at the nature of B.C. grow operations "and the nature of the individuals involved," he says. "It's an exceptionally interesting study because it provides an opportunity to see how the system works from beginning to end," he says. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl