Pubdate: Thu, 17 Apr 2008 Source: Orangeville Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2008 Orangeville Citizen Contact: http://www.citizen.on.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2529 Author: Dan Pelton Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/grow+operations SUPPORT FOR INSPECTION OF FORMER GROW OPS Orangeville council voted Monday to sign a protocol that calls for municipalities to conduct thorough inspections of dwellings that have been identified as former marijuana grow operations. Police Chief Joe Tomei says there are number of hazards present in buildings that have housed grow ops. "There are mould issues," said Chief Tomei. "The frame of a house gets so much humidity that the house gets decrepit." He also says grow operations often find ways to illegally acquire power to offset the massive hydro costs involved. The work is usually amateur, clumsy and ultimately dangerous. "They're not going to call in a licensed electrician to do the work," says Chief Tomei, "They will probably get reported. They are going to do the job themselves." The humidity caused by a grow op's huge need for water can produce mould, mildew and other toxins known to cause everything from skin disease to respiratory problems and even death. Many grow ops also feature an array of hidden booby traps aimed at keeping both police and competitors away from the stash. The Municipal Act of 2001 requires municipalities to make sure that buildings once used as marijuana grow ops are safe in order to protect the public. In a brief presented to council, Chief Tomei pointed out that the purpose of this protocol is to ensure that written communications between the police service and municipalities take place once grow ops are identified. The responsibility of the police, in accordance with the protocol, is to conduct a thorough investigation, place a notice on the main entrance to the premises and contact the clerk of the Town of Orangeville. The Town, in turn, is responsible for ensuring that the name of the registered owner of the property, as contained in the records of the municipality, is forwarded to police. Appropriate inspections must be carried out by the municipality, within a reasonable time, to identify and list all hazards resulting from the grow op. There is a reason, besides the physical hazards caused by grow ops, for both police and municipalities to maintain their vigilance. People have been purchasing known grow-op homes at reduced prices, with the idea of refurbishing them to make substantial profits in a resale. That could lead to criminals showing up at the address believing it's still a grow-op, which could be dangerous for the new homeowners. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin