Police are cautioning landlords to take some precautions to prevent tenants from growing marijuana after a relatively small grow operation was uncovered Wednesday. The Penticton RCMP property crimes/drug task force seized 45 mature marijuana plants and arrested four individuals when they executed a search warrant at a rental property in the 200-block Scott Avenue. The three men and one woman were released with an order to appear in court Aug. 14. Police also seized hydroponic growing equipment, drug paraphernalia and about $2,000 in stolen property in the afternoon raid, said Const. Terry Jacklin. Five dogs on the property were turned over to the city animal control officer. [continues 203 words]
An admitted regular marijuana user, charged with cultivating and trafficking the narcotic, told the court Wednesday he has no desire to sell any of his harvest. Errol Arne Dammert, 57, said that despite the fact he is living on a disability pension that leaves him with just $121 a month after rent, he has not branched out into selling the marijuana he grows. And he said he grows his own marijuana because he does not trust the pot available on the street. "I don't like to buy it on the street because I don't know what kind of chemicals are used in the process of growing it," he said. [continues 290 words]
