GROW OP BUSTED IN PEMBERTON

Pemberton RCMP seized marijuana valued at more than $250,000 on Saturday
when the busted a grow operation in Pemberton.

"It was definitely a large seizure," said RCMP media liason officer Michelle
Nisbet. "If you look at the physical environment (in the area), it is
conducive to growing marijuana. If there are more outdoor grow (operations)
outside in Whistler and Pemberton, it would not be a huge surprise to
police. It is the perfect environment and people are willing to buy it."

More than 300 plants were seized from a home in the 1400 block of Hemlock
Street. A considerable amount of equipment used for the operations was also
seized.

RCMP took one adult male into custody. He is set to make a first appearance
Sept. 30 in Pemberton Provincial Court.

Nisbet said because of the social tolerance for marijuana in Whistler and
Pemberton, the operators of grow operations are able to support a business.

"A lot of people in the area support or are neutral to the use of
marijuana," she said. "It has got to come from somewhere."

Because of the exposure of marijuana in the Village, mountains and the skate
park, RCMP take initiatives to educate the public, especially youths, about
drugs via programs such as the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE).

"(Kids) see it around Whistler and they have the perception that it is OK
and it doesn't hurt you," she said. "With the DARE program, we facilitate
good conversations with students."

Nisbet said she is always amazed at how much students already know about
drugs.

"We have a community not like any other place," she said. "(Kids) only have
to go to the Village and see their potential role models stumbling out of
bars. They are all active in skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking and
skateboarding and (marijuana) is what people have chosen to accompany their
sport."