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." - --- MAP posted-by: Beth