POT PLAN GOES TO STANDING COMMITTEE

Give cities and police the tools and legislation they need to hammer
down the growing marijuana trade, Mayor Dianne Watts was expected to
tell a powerful federal justice committee Thursday night.

A team of five were to appear before the Standing Committee on Justice
and Human Rights in Vancouver in order to address this region's
problem with pot grow operations.

Watts was joined by City of Langley Mayor Peter Fassbender, Surrey
Fire Chief Len Garis, RCMP Supt. Janice Armstrong and criminologist
Dr. Darryl Plecas.

The appearance before the standing committee is being described as
"one of the highest levels yet" that will hear potential solutions to
the marijuana trade.

The local group said grow ops in B.C. are the money machines that fund
major crime networks, citing B.C.'s Organized Crime Agency estimates
that "organized crime groups control 85 per cent of B.C.'s marijuana
trade."

The team pointed out the majority (50-80 per cent) of the drugs are
travelling across the border into the U.S.

Underlining the organized crime connection, in 2007, the number of
drug seizures at the border dropped by 36 per cent, however, the
quantity seized increased by 65 per cent, suggesting larger-sized shipments.

"This aligns with the RCMP's observation that organized crime groups
involved in marijuana cultivation showed increased proficiency,
mobility and sophistication in 2007," the group said.

They also highlighted the myriad community safety problems associated
with the grow operations, including grow rips and increased risk of
house fires.

The Watts and Fassbender team was expected to ask the committee to
help tackle the problem on four fronts, including:

. Disruption of funding sources - increase the sharing of information
to ensure the Canadian Revenue Agency can pursue tax audits of
individuals with marijuana and drug production income. Illegal revenue
is taxable, and audits should be done on every grow operation
identified, the team said. The presenters said marijuana cultivation
in this province is a $6-billion industry. Last year in Surrey, 277
marijuana grow operations were identified, and if average size, they
would produce a combined total of $97 million in revenue. That
represents a tax loss of $28 million in federal taxes and $14 million
in provincial taxes, and that's just one city.

. Regulation of equipment - regulate or control the sale and purchase
of hydroponics equipment, used in the majority of grow operations.

. Monitoring of legal grow operations more closely - licensed indoor
medical grow operations share the same risks as illegal operations and
operate with minimal scrutiny.

. Research - apply resources to researching new detection technology,
to assessing regional programs and to monitoring the overall marijuana
trade in order to develop approaches that work.

The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights has the power to
conduct investigations and recommend policy or legislative changes.