Pubdate: Sat, 08 Apr 2006
Source: Now, The (Surrey, CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 The Now Newspaper
Contact: http://www.thenownewspaper.com/forms/lettersform.html
Website: http://www.thenownewspaper.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1462
Author: Maureen Gulyas
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

SHUTTING DOWN GROW-OPS MEANS CASH

A bylaw to make landlords more accountable for properties used to 
grow marijuana has netted Delta more than $80,000 over the past two years.

Out of 53 properties issued with non-compliance orders because they 
had marijuana grow-ops - most of them in industrial areas and in 
North Delta - 41 have met the requirements so they could be safely reoccupied.

That's a 77 per cent compliance rate.

"It's not a monetary windfall, but it does ensure that landlords are 
doing their due diligence in inspecting their properties," said Delta 
police's drug section supervisor, Det./Sgt. Harj Sidhu.

A review done by Delta's community planning department found police 
have been able to recoup just over $81,000 over the two-year period 
for costs associated with executing search warrants, including 
overtime wages, at grow-ops. It doesn't cover costs associated with 
the initial investigation and gathering enough evidence to write a 
warrant to be approved by a judge.

Approved in February 2004, the bylaw prohibits any property from 
remaining or becoming a place to manufacture drugs. With the 
exception of one, all 53 properties issued with a bill for services 
in the past 24 months were marijuana grow-ops.

If activities or conditions on a property are found to contravene the 
bylaw, the owner or occupant must remedy those hazards before it may 
be occupied again.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom