Pubdate: Thu, 22 Sep 2011 Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2011 Canwest Publishing Inc. Contact: http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/letters.html Website: http://www.calgaryherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66 Author: Stephane Massinon, Calgary Herald; with files from Postmedia News SLOW START FOR RCMP'S ONLINE LIST IDENTIFYING BUSTED GROW OPS Website Is Part of National Strategy A new national RCMP database that promises to list marijuana grow operations is o to a slow start in Alberta. The website, launched Wednesday in Ottawa as part of the RCMP's new national marijuana grow strategy, lists only six grow ops in the province dating back to November 2010. RCMP say the website will only lists the grow ops busted by Mounties, not by municipal forces such as the Calgary Police Service. But of the six addresses listed, one is Calgary, two in Edmonton, and one each in Sundre, Strathcona County, and near Veteran. The website, as it now stands, lists none in Airdrie, Red Deer and Fort McMurray, all of which are policed by RCMP. "This is just starting. It's an awareness as much for our RCMP members out there to start reporting this stuff to headquarters," said Supt. Eric Slinn, director of the RCMP drug branch at national headquarters. "Time will tell as to how many grow ops will go on there. Is it a true representation of the number of grow ops seized in Alberta right now? Probably not, but as we roll this website out more and more we'll probably see more RCMP units, whether they be detachments or drug units, reporting those seizures to us." For comparison's sake, Calgary had 168 grow op searches in 2010, which yielded over $88 million in marijuana and an average 446 plants found. The move is part of an RCMP-led initiative launched Wednesday in Ottawa that will focus on enforcement, deterrence and awareness. The website lists the address, location type, quantity of plants and date. The addresses will remain on the RCMP website for one year. "Marijuana grow operations pose a serious threat to Canadians, the safety of our communities and the law enforcement officers fighting against these illegal operations," said Shelly Glover, the Conservative MP for St. Boniface, Man., and a former police officer. Slinn said grow operations, with their mould and tampered electric wiring pose a safety risk and are often tied to organized crime. "I want to demystify the notion that marijuana is a harmless drug. It's not from the perspective of the production and the trafficking of it. It brings fires, explosions, violence and it begets the cocaine and the drugs that come into the country." Alberta Health Services already lists grow operations in the Calgary and Edmonton areas. As of Wednesday, there are 78 addresses in the Calgary area deemed uninhabitable because they were grow operations and were busted in 2011. The AHS site lists active orders that deem houses uninhabitable dating back to 2009. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.