Pubdate: Thu, 27 Apr 2006
Source: Hope Standard (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Hope Standard
Contact:  http://www.hopestandard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1397
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

DON'T FORGET THE INNOCENT ONES

It's Quiet Out There -- Too Quiet.

Typically when news from the front lines of the war on marijuana hits 
the streets, it is followed by a hue and cry from those who would 
decriminalize the herb.

But in the wake of the announcement of new powers which permit 
municipalities to examine hydro electric consumption in an effort to 
rid our communities of the grow-op scourge, few have stepped up to 
decry the move.

Perhaps many are wrestling with the Big Brother nature of the new law 
versus the public safety issue of having illegal grow operations in our midst.

It's no secret that municipal officials, provincial legislators, 
police forces and fire departments are rubbing their hands together 
in a state bordering on glee.

It's a bold move that will surely change the face of indoor marijuana 
cultivation. The pilot project launched in Surrey last year has the 
numbers to prove it.

The Electrical Fire Safety Initiative identified high-use households, 
then posted notices that the homes would be inspected in 48 hours time.

The initiative team identified 420 homes that met the high-usage 
criteria and busted 119 marijuana growing operations.

Those are indeed tough statistics to argue. But let's not ignore the 
spectre of Big Brother inherent in this new plan. The sharing of this 
type of information from consumer corporation to law enforcement 
agencies has historically been a matter for a Freedom of Information 
request. But those days are gone.

Officials will now be looking for households with high usage starting 
at as little as three times 'normal.' Where does this leave the 
hobbyist or the legitimate home-based business operator?

Cops make mistakes. Instances of policemen kicking in the wrong door, 
raiding the wrong home and terrorizing an innocent family are the 
stuff of legend. We have to hope there are sufficient safety 
mechanisms built in.

The public safety nature of this issue is clearly important. And 
having Big Brother watching isn't always a bad thing. Let's hope the 
innocent still have nothing to fear.

- -- Prince George Free Press
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom