GROW OPS: COUNCIL SEEKS HYDRO AID

Langley Township Is Asking Local MLA And B.C. Top Cop Rich Coleman For Some
Help In Battling Marijuana Grow Operations.

Langley Township is zeroing in on grow ops, and high energy users and
hydroponic supply stores are on the list.

Council agreed Monday to ask the province to work with BC Hydro to notify
police of unusual energy bills that could be a sign of marijuana grow
operations.

In their letter to Solicitor General and Fort Langley-Aldergrove MLA Rich
Coleman, Council will also seek advice on how to review localhydroponic
supply stores, and how actions similar to those contained in pawn shop
bylaws could be applied to those stores, so that suspicious activity could
be reported.

Only Councillor Muriel Arnason voted against sending the letter.

"I think the best way to handle this matter is to make [marijuana] legal,"
she said. "The only way to stop it is to take away [the growers'] livelihood."

"I don't want to see anymore RCMP officers killed," she said, referring to
the recent deaths of four Alberta Mounties.

The suggestion to send the letter and review hydroponic supply stores came
from the Township's community safety commission, after it heard from a
member of Langley RCMP's drug enforcement unit.

It is hoped that Langley will get information back on a pilot project in
Surrey that is targeting grow operations, said Coun. Mel Kositsky, a
commission member.

A team of firefighters, police, and electrical inspectors will investigate
suspicious homes with unusually high power consumption. If the residence is
found to be a hazard or an inspection is not permitted, power will be shut off.

The project could come to Langley if it is successful in Surrey, Coleman
told the Langley Advance News this week [Pot busting project could grow,
March 8].

Sending a letter to Coleman doesn't go far enough, Coun. Kim Richter said.

"I'm of the opinion we should be asking for a pilot project here in
Langley, because we have a significant problem here and we can't be
ostriches about it," she said.

Richter did question whether or not the Township has the legal right to
review or restrict hydroponic supply stores, "or will it be viewed as the
persecution of a particular business?"

Administrator Mark Bakken said Council does have the authority to limit
businesses through zoning, and a review would look at those types of issues.