OFFICERS WANT DETAILS ON GROW-OPS

The Village of Lumby is joining the fight to identify those using
marijuana for medical purposes.

Council is backing an RCMP initiative to have the federal government
notify enforcement agencies and municipalities on where licenses to
grow marijuana have been issued.

"Everyone involved should know where these grow-ops are," said Mayor
Kevin Acton referring to the police, fire department and bylaw
enforcement.

"I was shocked to find out that they don't know."

The local RCMP have asked all local jurisdictions to pursue the matter
at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in September.

"All are aware of the issues and concerns arising from these currently
unregulated or at least uninspected grow operations," said Supt. Reg
Burgess, the officer-in-charge for the North Okanagan region.

Presently, Health Canada, which licenses medicinal marijuana
operations, is not obligated to notify local authorities about
location, ownership or inspection.

"Police and fire services have identified community safety issues
regarding medical marijuana grow sites such as increased participation
by organized crime groups, home invasions because of the potential
profits with the illicit sale of marijuana, health issues for children
living in houses where marijuana is grown, increased residential
fires, use of dangerous chemicals, chemical dumping in sewer systems
and electrical injury to growers and their families," states a
resolution drafted by the RCMP.

Acton is also concerned that police officers may be pursuing what they
think is an illegal activity when it is a resident who has a license
and isn't breaking the law.

"What a waste of money to investigate a grow-op that has a medical
license. The RCMP are already shorthanded," he said.