Pubdate: Thu, 13 Apr 2006
Source: Era-Banner, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006 The Era-Banner
Contact:  http://www.yorkregion.com/yr/newscentre/erabanner/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2678
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD COME FIRST IN GROW OP DISCLOSURE ISSUE

ISSUE: Chief Armand La Barge won't release list of grow ops without 
provincial law clearly defining such.

We all know the dangers of indoor marijuana grow operations.

Growing weed indoors creates incredible moisture damage and makeshift 
wiring to bypass hydro metres and exposed electrical panels are a fire hazard.

Then there is the less obvious problems of mould spores forming 
inside walls that may not reveal themselves until months after a grow 
op has been dismantled.

All of this puts families and neighbourhoods at risk.

York Region has become a haven for pot houses over the past few years 
and are cropping up in subdivisions at an alarming rate.

Last year, for example, 173 grow labs were found in York and police 
estimate there were about 10,000 operating across the Greater Toronto Area.

York Regional Police often call reporters and photographers to 
accompany them and witness officers busting multi-million-dollar 
grow-op operations, a perfect opportunity to show residents they are 
on top of the issue.

It seems rather hypocritical, then, that when it comes to making 
these addresses readily available to the public, Chief Armand La 
Barge has refused to divulge such information.

Even when Chief La Barge was requested under freedom of information 
last month by CTV to reveal a list of York Region grow ops, he refused.

After an appeal, however, he was forced to hand over to the TV 
station a list of homes in the region where police executed search 
warrants and seized marijuana plants from 2002 to 2005.

The chief says he won't give out the addresses of former grow ops 
until the province passes legislation clearly defining what 
constitutes a grow op.

That's ridiculous.

Any competent police officer knows with just a quick look around any 
high-tech marijuana grow operation the place will need major clean up 
and repairs.

It's about public safety, a service for which the public pays a hefty price.

The need for public safety, however, must be weighed against 
liability and privacy concerns when making the decision to release 
addresses of former pot houses, the chief insists.

Reading between the lines, it's clear he wants to avoid potential 
lawsuits against the force by owners and neighbouring property owners 
concerned house values could be negatively affected.

Former London police officer Bruce Brown disagrees with the chief's 
reasoning to keep the list from the public, rightly pointing out, 
"once a search warrant is executed it becomes public anyways".

So far, only London's police force and Toronto's 42 Division let the 
public know locations of former marijuana operations. Durham police 
are seriously considering the idea.

Readers who answered our website question on the issue overwhelmingly 
agree residents should be made aware of houses that have been used 
for growing pot.

Says one reader: "These houses are dangers to the community and can 
go up in flames at a moment's notice. The gases grow ops give off are 
harmful to others and let's face it, drug growers are not known for 
their level of intelligence."

And at least one area real estate agent thinks it would make his job 
a lot easier if there was an accessible list.

"This is not something that should be kept from a potential buyer. 
There could be health hazards and it shouldn't matter if values of 
homes are diminished or not. (Police) should absolutely let people 
know," said Newmarket's Century 21 Heritage Group Ltd. general 
manager Larry Mandlsohn.

Bottom line is the chief shouldn't use lack of provincial legislation 
to hold back information the public has every right to see.

So far, there is no evidence to support claims grow ops have a 
negative impact on property values, Al Orlando, president of the York 
Region Real Estate Board, has said.

But to avoid that happening, many municipalities in Vancouver, where 
grow ops first sprouted in Canada, have taken a pro-active approach 
and have partnered with police in attacking the problem.

Politicians there say bylaws force homeowners to either clean up or 
have the cost of cleaning up grow ops added to the property tax bill.

York Det.-Sgt. Karen Noakes has said York municipalities would likely 
benefit from similar bylaws.

We agree.

Let's get moving sooner, rather than later.

BOTTOM LINE: Public safety should be first and foremost, not 
potential lawsuits by homeowners over property values.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman