Pubdate: Tue, 12 May 2009
Source: Hope Standard (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Hope Standard
Contact:  http://www.hopestandard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1397
Author: Kevin Diakiw
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

TEAM'S POT PLAN GOES TO STANDING COMMITTEE

Give cities and police the tools and legislation they need to hammer 
down the growing marijuana trade, Surrey's mayor, Dianne Watts, was 
recently expected to tell a powerful federal justice committee.

A team of five were to appear before the Standing Committee on 
Justice and Human Rights in Vancouver in order to address this 
region's problem with pot grow operations.

Watts was joined by City of Langley Mayor Peter Fassbender, Surrey 
Fire Chief Len Garis, RCMP Supt. Janice Armstrong and criminologist 
Dr. Darryl Plecas.

The appearance before the standing committee was being described as 
"one of the highest levels yet" that will hear potential solutions to 
the marijuana trade.

The local group said grow-ops in B.C. are the money machines that 
fund major crime networks, citing B.C.'s Organized Crime Agency 
estimates that "organized crime groups control 85 per cent of B.C.'s 
marijuana trade."

The team pointed out the majority (50-80 per cent) of the drugs are 
travelling across the border into the U.S.

Underlining the organized crime connection, in 2007, the number of 
drug seizures at the border dropped by 36 per cent, however, the 
quantity seized increased by 65 per cent, suggesting larger-sized shipments.

"This aligns with the RCMP's observation that organized crime groups 
involved in marijuana cultivation showed increased proficiency, 
mobility and sophistication in 2007," the group said.

They also highlighted the myriad community safety problems associated 
with the grow operations, including grow rips and increase risk of house fires.

The Watts and Fassbender team were expected to ask the committee to 
help tackle the problem on four fronts, including:

. Disruption of funding sources - increase the sharing of information 
to ensure the Canadian Revenue Agency can pursue tax audits of 
individuals with marijuana and drug production income. Illegal 
revenue is taxable, and audits should be done on every grow operation 
identified, the team said. The presenters said marijuana cultivation 
in this province is a $6-billion industry. Last year in Surrey, 277 
marijuana grow operations were identified, and if average size, they 
would produce a combined total of $97 million in revenue. That 
represents a tax loss of $28 million in federal taxes and $14 million 
in provincial taxes, and that's just one city.

. Regulation of equipment - regulate or control the sale and purchase 
of hydroponics equipment, used in the majority of grow operations.

. Monitoring of legal grow operations more closely - licensed indoor 
medical grow operations share the same risks as illegal operations 
and operate with minimal scrutiny.

. Research - apply resources to researching new detection technology, 
to assessing regional programs and to monitoring the overall 
marijuana trade in order to develop approaches that work.

The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights has the power to 
conduct investigations and recommend policy or legislative changes.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom