Pubdate: Sat, 10 Mar 2007
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 The Vancouver Sun
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Matthew Claxton, Langley Advance
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

TOWNSHIP PLANS TO USE SAFETY INSPECTIONS TO CRACK DOWN ON MARIJUANA 
OPERATIONS AND DRUG LABS

LANGLEY TOWNSHIP - The Township will have a new tool to crack down on 
the owners of homes where drugs are illicitly being produced.

Council has given authorization for a pilot program that will use 
special safety inspections to recover costs from marijuana grow homes.

The $250,000 project includes a number of changes to Township bylaws.

Existing bylaws will be augmented by giving the Township the power to 
cut off water to properties on which drugs are to produced, giving 
Township workers the power to conduct repairs if owners don't comply, 
and turning any expenses into a debt of the owners.

The first three readings of the bylaw changes were passed unanimously.

Because drugs and crime are federal and provincial matters, 
Councillor Steve Ferguson asked whether there was any way to obtain 
more funding from other levels of government. Township staff say 
there doesn't appear to be any chance of that happening.

The bylaw won't be aimed solely at marijuana grow operations. The 
wording mentions the production of controlled substances, so it could 
be used against labs making methamphetamines or other substances as well.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom