Pubdate: Fri, 09 Mar 2007
Source: Langley Advance (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.langleyadvance.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1248
Author: Matthew Claxton
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

BYLAW TARGETS DRUG MAKERS

Pot Growers And Meth Makers Will Be The Targets Of A New Bylaw From 
The Township Council.

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

On Monday, council gave 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 used to produce drugs, 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 get 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 illicit labs making methamphetamines or other 
substances as well.

One of the reasons the Township is changing its bylaws is that other, 
neighbouring cities have been adopting similar policies.

That may be driving some pot growers into Langley.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom