PREMIER'S POT TALE

Dumb marijuana grower used former A-G's rental property to set up shop

Ever seen that trashy U.S. TV show America's Dumbest Criminals? Hell, those
guys got nothing on British Columbia's dumbest marijuana grower: The poor
Surrey chump who set up his pot plants in the attorney-general's garage.

It could only happen in British Columbia, folks. And it's being revealed
here for the first time.

Flash back to May 21, 1996. It was exactly one week before election day when
the Surrey fire department was called out to a suspicious blaze.

When the smoke-eaters arrived at 6159--170th Street, they discovered a small
marijuana grow operation in the garage. Surrey RCMP seized the plants and
the usual assortment of lights and grow equipment.

But this was no ordinary pot bust. The house was owned (and is still owned)
by now-Premier Ujjal Dosanjh, who was then attorney-general.

"I got a call during the last election campaign," Dosanjh revealed to me
yesterday.

Dosanjh said a property manager looked after the rented-out home for him,
and neither of them knew anything about the grow operation.

"I retained a lawyer to deal with the proceeds of the rent -- it could have
been tainted."

Dosanjh was advised by his counsel that he could keep the rent money. And
the premier assured me yesterday he strictly followed provincial tenancy
laws as he proceeded to evict tenant Christopher Fredrickson, now 38.

Fredrickson pleaded guilty to cultivating marijuana and paid a $1,200 fine.

I couldn't reach Chris yesterday. And I'm not one to tolerate law-breakers.
But, man, this is one guy with nerves of steel. Imagine setting up a grow-op
in the top cop's garage. Phat, dude!

But isn't it interesting how our open, transparent, accountable premier
managed to keep this little incident hush-hush (or is that hash-hash) for
four years?

Since narcotics crimes are federal jurisdiction, there was no need for the
A-G's ministry to get involved and appoint a special prosecutor.

And Robert Pryor of the federal justice department told me yesterday he
doesn't believe any special measures were taken in the case.

"I dealt with the matter appropriately," Dosanjh said yesterday.

One of his staffers summed it up best: "There was no attempt to cover up
anything here -- but he didn't send out any press releases about it."

Indeed, NDP insiders I spoke with yesterday were shocked to hear Dosanjh's
house had been busted for pot just one week before election day.

"You gotta be kidding me!" one senior election strategist declared.

Would the pot-bust revelation have hurt Dosanjh's re-election chances? I
doubt it. After all, the RCMP raided NDP headquarters six weeks before E-day
and the slippery rascals still got back in.

But it just goes to show you: In this reefer-mad province, they'll grow the
stuff just about anywhere.

Even under the premier's nose. I presume he didn't inhale.