Pubdate: Fri, 20 Aug 2004
Source: Chilliwack Progress (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 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)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

CITY'S POT BYLAW TOUGHER ON GROWERS THAN COURTS: MAYOR

Chilliwack's anti-pot bylaw, the toughest in B.C., was finally adopted by 
city council Monday.

The bylaw carries a maximum $10,000 fine which can be levied against 
tenants caught growing marijuana, or landlords who fail to inspect rental 
properties as required.

"We're taking a stronger stand than the courts," Mayor Hames said.

The Nuisance, Noxious, or Offensive Trades Health and Safety bylaw, drafted 
after extensive consultation with lawyers, landlords, realtors and police 
officials, contains provisions which also cover the growing problem of 
methamphetamine labs.

Landlords are responsible under the bylaw for cleaning up premises where 
marijuana grow-ops or chemical labs are found, and to notify tenants before 
reoccupation "to ensure that property is safe to be occupied," Mayor Hames 
said.

Councillor Sharon Gaetz, who chairs the city's public safety committee, 
said the bylaw will help recover the cost of finding and busting grow-ops, 
which is currently "over a million" dollars every year.

"Our council believes regular, honest taxpayers should not subsidize clean 
up costs," she said.

Chilliwack's RCMP marijuana strike team is "taking down two grow-ops every 
week," she said.

The RCMP strike team was formed and work on the bylaw started in June 2002, 
after a study by the University College of the Fraser Valley showed 
Chilliwack had the second-highest rate of marijuana grow operations per 
capita in the province.

Mayor Hames said landlords can avoid most problems targeted by the bylaw by 
taking the simple steps of asking tenants for identification, checking 
credit references, and asking for signed leases that call for regular 
inspections of the premises.

He expects the bylaw will cut in half the number of grow-ops in Chilliwack.

"I think we've got a winner," he said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D