SUPPORT FOR INSPECTION OF FORMER GROW OPS

Orangeville council voted Monday to sign a protocol that calls for
municipalities to conduct thorough inspections of dwellings that have
been identified as former marijuana grow operations.

Police Chief Joe Tomei says there are number of hazards present in
buildings that have housed grow ops.

"There are mould issues," said Chief Tomei.

"The frame of a house gets so much humidity that the house gets
decrepit."

He also says grow operations often find ways to illegally acquire
power to offset the massive hydro costs involved. The work is usually
amateur, clumsy and ultimately dangerous.

"They're not going to call in a licensed electrician to do the work,"
says Chief Tomei, "They will probably get reported. They are going to
do the job themselves."

The humidity caused by a grow op's huge need for water can produce
mould, mildew and other toxins known to cause everything from skin
disease to respiratory problems and even death.

Many grow ops also feature an array of hidden booby traps aimed at
keeping both police and competitors away from the stash.

The Municipal Act of 2001 requires municipalities to make sure that
buildings once used as marijuana grow ops are safe in order to protect
the public.

In a brief presented to council, Chief Tomei pointed out that the
purpose of this protocol is to ensure that written communications
between the police service and municipalities take place once grow ops
are identified.

The responsibility of the police, in accordance with the protocol, is
to conduct a thorough investigation, place a notice on the main
entrance to the premises and contact the clerk of the Town of
Orangeville. The Town, in turn, is responsible for ensuring that the
name of the registered owner of the property, as contained in the
records of the municipality, is forwarded to police.

Appropriate inspections must be carried out by the municipality,
within a reasonable time, to identify and list all hazards resulting
from the grow op.

There is a reason, besides the physical hazards caused by grow ops,
for both police and municipalities to maintain their vigilance.

People have been purchasing known grow-op homes at reduced prices,
with the idea of refurbishing them to make substantial profits in a
resale. That could lead to criminals showing up at the address
believing it's still a grow-op, which could be dangerous for the new
homeowners.