Pubdate: Thu, 21 Mar 2013
Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Nanaimo Daily News
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608
Author: Spencer Anderson

LICENSED POT GROWS UP AS ILLEGAL OPERATIONS DECLINE

New Regulations Next Year Will Make Shutting Down Illegal Operations Easier

The number of illegal marijuana grow-ops in Nanaimo dropped 
significantly during the last half of 2012, and the city's RCMP 
detachment says that's due to an increased number of medical 
marijuana licenses in the city.

The number of illegal marijuana grow-ops dropped 35 per cent between 
July to September last year compared to the same period in 2011, 
dropping to 24 violations compared to 37. From October to December 
2012, RCMP recorded a 33 per cent decrease in grow-ops, ending up at 
12 cases, down from 18 the previous year.

Cpl. Don Helgeson, former head of Nanaimo RCMP's drug unit, says new 
regulations being brought in by Health Canada next year will make 
enforcing illegal grow-ops easier in the future.

The feds are changing how people with medical conditions can access 
marijuana. Currently, patients can either attain medical pot through 
a government-designated grower, or obtain a license to grow it 
themselves. Under the new rules, which come into effect April 1, 
2014, the residential license would be eliminated and replaced with a 
license for commercial operators only.

The move also presents a new set of circumstances for law enforcement 
officials.

According to Helgeson, if police are going to investigate a possible 
marijuana grow-op, they must first contact Health Canada to check if 
there is a medical marijuana license designated for the property. If 
a license exists, police won't investigate further unless there is 
evidence the terms of the license are being violated.

"What we're seeing is people are taking advantage of the fact that 
they can get licences, and are applying for and getting them," Helgeson said.

But under the new rules, its unclear if people with legitimate 
licenses now will continue to grow marijuana, he added. It's also 
unclear if some licenses will remain in effect beyond the regulatory 
changeover.

But eventually, no one will have a license for residential properties 
to grow marijuana.

That means the odds of detecting an illegal grow-op are much higher, 
he said. However, Helgeson said an increased number of grow-op 
investigations could also burden police resources.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom