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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom