PROFITS GO TO POT

Landlords Should Be Diligent In Preventing Grow Ops

The hopes of 24 people in making a nice cache of cash from 19 marijuana
grow operations went up in smoke Monday.

The RCMP's South Okanagan Marijuana Grow Eradication Team now in its second
year has been at it again, working smarter and working together to
apprehend regional growers.

The concerted effort appears to be making headway, though team leader Terry
Jacklin and Penticton Staff Sgt. Pete McLaren made clear several
investigation files are still outstanding.

"We are not going to get rid of the drug problem through enforcement,"
McLaren said. "We want to reduce the demand for the product. That's the
ultimate goal."

Granted, the pressure needs to continue on youngsters still in school to
understand the pitfalls in getting involved in the drug community. Many
buyers are still attending public school.

But let's face it. Many are also their parents. Smoking a joint may not be
as acceptable as drinking, but it comes close.

Quite apart from the market for dope, there is another segment of society
that supports the industry but as innocent bystanders.

Most of the grow operations were discovered at rental properties. Landlords
have a role to place in eradicating the problem.

They can play a large part in preventing a grow op in the first place, but
also tipping off police when they take in a tenant and later become suspicious.

Police advise them to check references, and bar, in writing, illegal
activities. Inspect the premises every month, especially if the tenant pays
rent in cash (although they must give advance notice).

These are simple precautions.

But they may just save an unsuspecting property owner his or her own cache
of cash.

An indoor production of marijuana causes an average of $8,000 when a
marijuana grower decides to move in and do some unwanted renovations.