A GROWING BUSINESS

Our community and British Columbia generally have gained a certain
notoriety as a land of "growers" - growing marijuana that is reputedly the
best in the world.

Grow houses have drawn our attention to the dangers of such operations, but
changes are imminent in our legal system, and possibly in our attitude.

On July 31st of this year, the law prohibiting the possession of marijuana
was declared unconstitutional. The Ontario Court of Appeal unanimously
ruled that the law making possession of marijuana illegal violates our
Charter of Human Rights, because it fails to provide provisions for those
taking marijuana for medical purposes.

The court has given the federal government one year to comply with the
charter. If the government does not act within that year, the law will
cease to exist and possession will be legal in Canada.

Twenty years ago, a friend of mine walked into a small corner store in
Idaho and asked for herbal cigarettes. The clerk, of East Indian descent,
looked around and then said, "Oh yes, we have that kind," and reached under
the counter for a pack of Mint Biddy's Herbal Cigarettes.

Well, the war rages on regarding the controversy of marijuana. It's been
hailed as a medical miracle and the devil's own brand, surrounded by myth,
hype and misinformation.

But let's look at a more mundane aspect: money.

British Columbia's marijuana market generates about $3 billion worth of
revenue each year. And whether you inhale it or not, that's a lot of
revenue going up in smoke without being taxed for our cash-strapped
province.

Add to that the cost of enforcing the laws forbidding use of this drug, and
society is paying a high price for a law some consider out-dated. Marijuana
is the most commonly used controlled substance in Canada.

Possession accounts for about half of the more than 60,000 drug offences
recorded annually. And about 2,000 Canadians are jailed and given criminal
records for possession of 'maryjane' each year.

Our community has witnessed several recent grow operations raided by
police. But perhaps a different aspect of what we normally read about can
be found in the lives of those who grow and smoke marijuana. And the
benefits and penalties they have encountered.

Jeff, not his real name, is a community-minded local resident who runs his
own business. He's also been involved in home grow ops for a number of
years. Jeff has several convictions for marijuana possession, but that
hasn't stopped him...or a large number of individuals in this community. He
estimates that one out of 15 households has been involved at some time in a
grow op.

The startup equipment isn't expensive: two lights, two transformer,
reservoir pump, two timers, chemicals, fertilizer; all of which are
available at local hydroponics shops. One indicator, of the "growth" of
this industry is the number of hydroponic shops in the area, Jeff says.

"You're looking at about $1500, plus clones (cuttings that have rooted from
other established plants) cost between $5 to $10, depending on the
variety." A typical small grow show is 2 to 3 lights with between 8 to 20
plants. Most of the growers are the end user of the product. Jeff will keep
about a quarter pound with the rest distributed to friends at approximately
$200 an ounce.

Most small operations do three crops a year producing one pound of prime
bud, with a value of $3000 per crop.

And that's $9,000 of extra non-taxable disposable income.

"The income I get goes directly back to the local economy," Jeff notes.
Besides upgrading equipment, he buys his vehicle, electronics, renovations
and other purchases locally.

Jeff has been smoking since he was 16 and now, in his middle years, he
describes himself as a "big hearted, hardworking person." His only criminal
record is pot related. "I'm a productive member of the community like
everyone else."

And he does not view marijuana as a destructive influence in his life. The
biggest side effect to pot is that it "kills ambition if you abuse it. I
use it at night. It lets me sleep like a baby. Mother Nature's Valium."

But what's the best way to deal with marijuana? The question is whether we
should legalize it or decriminalize it, he says. Jeff believes that it
should be decriminalized, not legalized. "It should be under the Food &
Drugs Act with access restricted like a prescription medicine."

Jeff is currently growing six plants which will produce lb of pot. "If I
get caught, I'll probably be fined $500. I'm not worried about that. If I
plead guilty in court, I'm standing up for my lifestyle, regardless of the
penalty."

And what economic benefit does this industry have on our community? "If we
were to eradicate local grow ops, local business would notice a drop in
their income, Jeff says.

And our crops have international reputations: "We're well known for our
pot. In Holland, the number one marijuana is BC Bud. "We're producing a
world-famous product here."

Jeff has not been deterred by current legislation - in his latest
conviction, he paid the fine and in the same day was smoking a joint. But
it is not without penalties. It has left him with a criminal record, one
that will restrict his opportunities for the rest of his life.

Until the 1930's, marijuana was not a banned substance. Various myths
abound, fuelled by interests such as the liquor industry of the twentieth
century. The classic film, "Reefer Madness" depicts a crazed marijuana
smoker axing his family to death. It was funded by those producing alcohol
and fearing competition in the recreational drug arena.

The federal government softened the laws somewhat in 1997, making
possession of a small amount of cannabis punishable by up to six months in
jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Individuals cannot be fingerprinted and no
easily traceable information appears in computer databases. But those
convicted still have criminal records.

But is jailing users and growers beneficial to our community? Are fines and
criminal records reducing the use of this drug? And at what price to the
tax-payers in our society and community?

A recent Angus Reid poll revealed that 63 per cent of Canadians want
cannabis decriminalized. What do you think? Should marijuana possession be
decriminalized, legalized or stay as it is? Record your vote. Log on to
http://www.take5.bc.ca/poll, fax 245-7099 or write to TAKE 5 and let us
know what you think.Look for the results of our reader poll in the Oct.
edition of TAKE 5.

SIDEBAR: Number of grow op complaints on the rise

It's hard to tell if grow shows in this area is increasing, but the number
of complaints is definitely up, say Ladsymith RCMP.

But the reason for the rise may be more related to an increased public
awareness of the problem, rather than an upsurge in activity, according to
Cpl. Bigelow.

"Grow ops have a higher profile on the news, so the public is more
involved. The reports to us are increasing. We're getting more complaints
because of the awareness."

There were 21 complaints concerning grow operations from August 1999 to
August 2000 (both indoor and outdoor operations). Complaints come in as
anonymous calls, people on the street who give officers information, or
through Crime Stoppers. Sometimes the information is not factual.

Lately, there's been a shift in the corridors of justice which has been
criticized for taking a lenient view when dealing out sentencing. "The
attitude is improving in the courts," says Bigelow. "They are taking grow
shows a lot more seriously." Annual policing costs in Canada related to
grow ops and marijuana are almost six billion.

One of the largest grow ops ever discovered in the Ladysmith - Chemainus
area occurred last March in the Saltair district, when police raided a
private home and seized 2,800 pot plants with an estimated street value of
about $2.8 million.

How can you tell if there is a grow op next door? According to Bigelow some
of the tell tale signs to watch for (usually in a rental house) are
moisture on the windows, people coming and going at different hours of the
night or day, and the appearance that no one actually lives there.

If you have a tip you'd like to pass on call Crime Stoppers or the
Ladysmith RCMP at 245-2215.

Editor's Note: Neither TAKE 5 nor the author Lorraine Hill condones or
promotes the use of any illegal substance.