PROTECT HOME RENTERS AND BUYERS FROM GROW-OP CRIME

Each day it becomes more clear that the fight to stop organized crime
from running marijuana growing operations necessitates a multi-faceted
approach.

More cops alone won't turn away growers or grow rippers, who have no
qualms about terrorizing innocent families in their pursuit of B.C
bud.

While stricter laws and tougher sentencing for growers would bolster
the effort, much more is needed. And the Vancouver Real Estate Board
is doing its part to protect future home owners from unwittingly
placing themselves in harm's way. Their request to have property
disclosure statements include a reference to marijuana growing
activity deserves to be applauded.

If approved by the provincial real estate association, it will provide
a better level of assurance that buyers know exactly what they are
purchasing. Now it's the province's turn to step up and protect
tenants too.

With the increasing proliferation of grow ops in townhouses and
apartments in addition to houses, tenants deserve an equal level of
protection. Landlords should be required by law to disclose this. And
if they don't, there should be serious consequences, both civil and
criminal.

That way there isn't a repeat of an incident earlier this month, when
a family renting a house in Richmond received the shock of their lives
when as many as four masked and armed men broke down the front door of
their home around dinner time.

Had they known the house had previously been a grow op, they would
never have rented it, they said.

Now that buyers appear to be getting more protection, it would be fair
to afford renters the same.

- - reprinted from Richmond Review