Pubdate: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 Source: Peace Arch News (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 Peace Arch News Contact: http://www.peacearchnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1333 Author: Kevin Diakiw Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) GROW OP PROGRAM GETS NOD Council, Residents, Hail Decision To Continue EFSI Initiative Water seeping down her walls, a persistent skunky smell, and frightening" people coming and going in the middle of night are just some of the impacts a marijuana grow operation is having on one woman's life. This is no way to live," the 65-year-old Kennedy Heights resident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. She expressed relief after learning about a program led by city staff, RCMP and the fire department to shut down grow operations. The program, called the Electrical Fire Safety Initiative, effectively shut down almost 120 alleged grow operations during a 90-day demonstration period from March 15 to June 3. Fire Chief Len Garis, delivered a report to council detailing the need for the program and the successes so far. Garis says the program became necessary because in British Columbia, police and courts can't keep up with the $7-billion industry - comparable to agriculture, tourism and forestry. There are an estimated 2,000 grow operations in Surrey alone. The criminal justice system in Canada, and in B.C. particularly, is clearly losing the war against marijuana production," Garis wrote in a 31-page report, delivered to Surrey council Monday. Increased and targeted resources and efforts have done little to diminish the escalating consequences that the production of this drug has on society's health and safety." Under the program, fire officials acting on police tips, attend homes with extraordinary electrical consumption (typical of a grow op) and ask the resident to allow a city inspection of the home. If no one is home, a request is left at the door to permit an inspection within 48 hours. Failure to comply results in power being shut off to the home. During the 90-day demonstration period, the five-person EFSI team disrupted power to 119 grow operations in Surrey, the report states. In that same 90-day period, the Surrey RCMP detachment took down 75 grow operations - 28 by the Green Team and 47 by uniformed officers," Garis noted in the report to council. Based on the statistics, it is clear that the EFSI system is able to meet its objectives less expensively and more efficiently than the criminal justice system," Garis wrote, noting the program shouldn't be considered a replacement for existing police enforcement strategies. Administered in concert, the two systems may achieve event greater gains in ridding our communities of marijuana grow operations and public safety threats that accompany them." City council roundly congratulated the EFSI team at Monday's council meeting, describing it as innovative" and proactive." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom