Pubdate: Fri, 18 Mar 2005
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 Calgary Herald
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: CanWest News Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

RCMP DEFENDS GROW OP STUDY

The RCMP is defending its decision to spend $110,000 on a high-profile 
study that warned of the increasing dangers of marijuana grow operations in 
British Columbia and was headed by a criminologist with extensive links to 
police forces in North America.

Insp. Paul Nadeau said the funds were a good use of RCMP resources and 
insisted the police force gave Darryl Plecas "total freedom" to conduct his 
research.

"We just wanted the facts," said Nadeau, who heads the RCMP's co-ordinated 
marijuana enforcement unit in B.C.

Plecas, an experienced criminologist at the University College of the 
Fraser Valley, examined police and prosecution statistics about marijuana 
cultivation in B.C. from 1997 to 2003.

The updated report, released this month, described marijuana grow ops as a 
growing "risk to public safety."

However, some critics say the report buries key findings that seem to 
contradict police claims that grow ops pose a growing danger.

Some experts said the identity of a study's sponsor or sponsors is 
important to keep in mind when assessing the study's legitimacy.

"Motivation affects perception," observed Alan Young, a professor at 
Osgoode Hall law school in Toronto. "I always tell my students to look at 
who commissioned a report."
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MAP posted-by: Beth