Pubdate: Fri, 06 Jul 2007 Source: Langley Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 Langley Times Contact: http://www.langleytimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1230 Author: Tri-City News (Black Press) HIT IN POCKETBOOK Grow-ops may not be candidates for membership in the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce but those indoor marijuana farms, located in homes all over the region, could qualify as the one of the city's largest industries. Until now. A $1.3 million co-operative project between the city, BC Hydro and Coquitlam RCMP seems to be nipping these illegal businesses in the bud. Since the Public Safety Inspection Program began a month ago, 23 properties have been inspected for excessive power use and 21 homeowners were fined $5,000 for a follow-up inspection. Crews that entered the homes also found building modifications and other signs a grow-op was previously on the premises, such as mould and interference with power, and piled on more fines. The program won't put grow-op owners behind bars. Owners of homes suspected of housing grow-ops get 48 hours notice of an inspection, which gives them time to move all their plants and skip town. But it must be a hassle to move 200-plus plants in the dead of night. Fines of $5,000 to $7,000 should put a dent in the profits. Concerns that legitimate businesses might be caught in up in the crackdown have so far been eliminated. There were no fines levied against two homes; at one, there was no evidence while the other was an unauthorized legal business that was using more than its fair share of power. People deserving of the hefty fines -- namely, the homeowners -- were the ones to get slapped. If nothing else, the Public Safety Inspection Program should at least make landlords more responsible. Barring the legalization of pot, the most sensible course of action is to tackle these pot houses as the safety hazards they are. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath