CITY PONDERS TEAM TO FOCUS ON MARIJUANA GROW-OPS

An $8-million plan to stem the proliferation of marijuana grow houses is on
its way to Toronto Council.

The plan would cost $8.3 million over five years to fund a new dedicated
squad that will use high-tech infrared technology to root out the
operations. Startup costs would be about $2 million if council decides to go
ahead with it this year, with the remaining $6 million rolling out in years
two to five.

Toronto's new police chief Bill Blair presented the report - which was
signed by his predecessor Julian Fantino - at last week's Toronto Police
Services Board meeting. He and drug squad Staff Inspector Dan Hayes told the
board that as it stands, the city is losing the fight against the
proliferation of the grow operations.

"The problem with marijuana grow operations and their proliferation is a
great concern to us and has impacted very seriously on our operations," said
Blair.

Hayes said Toronto is particularly popular in the GTA in part because it's
the only jurisdiction without a helicopter and infrared sensing devices to
detect the operations.

But both he and Blair were careful not to turn the report into a pitch for a
helicopter - something that Fantino frequently advocated.

"A helicopter is an excellent policing tool but I would want to see more
justification before I would ask this board or this city to spend that much
money," said Blair.

According to the report, members of the Toronto Drug Squad shut down 320
grow operations in 2004. That's an increase of 129 per cent over 2003 and a
400 per cent increase over 2002.

The operations, which are typically set up in rented houses and apartments,
are particularly concentrated in Scarborough but crop up around the city,
including the former city of York.

Aside from the illegality of the operations, they also pose serious safety
hazards as their operators bypass electrical meters and create fire hazards.
As well, the moisture in the operations helps cultivate toxic molds.

As well, said the report, there's evidence the operations are tied to
organized crime, and the proceeds from marijuana sales are used to purchase
guns and harder drugs. At present, Hayes said police are dealing with the
grow operations on a complaints basis because they don't have the resources
to proactively investigate the increasing problem.

The creation of a dedicated squad would help, although Hayes said that won't
end the problem.

Hayes said that the real problem is that sentencing for running marijuana
grow operations is so light that it's barely a deterrent.

"Last year 114 people were charged with operating grow operations and of
those persons charged, only five received a jail sentence and the average
sentence was only four months," said Hayes. "This is what you'd call high
profile, low risk."

The matter will go to the city's Budget Advisory Committee.