Pubdate: Fri, 10 Mar 2006
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Kent Spencer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)

NEW BYLAW DRIVES 26 GROW-OPS OUT OF BUSINESS SINCE LAST MONTH

One pot grower protested he was earning money for college while 
another thought no one would find lights and gear under a stairwell.

Surrey police and bylaw officers have heard and seen it all recently 
as crooks scramble to keep up with a new noxious-substance bylaw.

"We're tightening the rope around these people," RCMP Cpl. Roger 
Morrow said yesterday. "We'll make it not profitable to be in our city limits."

Designed to shut down marijuana grow-ops, the new bylaw has put 26 
operations out of business since being introduced last month. Morrow 
said the bylaw gives police a "super" tool to deal with commercial 
operations without having to go through the courts.

He said the bylaw works by shutting down homes for safety reasons and 
makes the owner responsible for cleanups that can hit $100,000.

Acting on a tip, city electrical inspectors request a home inspection 
for safety reasons. Homeowners have 48 hours to comply, during which 
time Surrey bylaw manager John Sherstone said the operation is often moved out.

If a home has been found to house a grow operation, it is deemed 
uninhabitable until a costly cleaning has been carried out and approved.

A total of 489 grow-ops were interrupted or dismantled last year 
before the bylaw came into effect and nearly 65,000 plants were seized.

Fifteen homes are awaiting a decision on forfeiture under proceeds of 
crime legislation. Seven homes have been forfeited and the money sent 
to Ottawa.

The number of grow-ops in Surrey on any given day is estimated at 
between 2,500 and 4,500.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom