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