HIT IN POCKETBOOK

Grow-ops may not be candidates for membership in the Tri-Cities
Chamber of Commerce but those indoor marijuana farms, located in homes
all over the region, could qualify as the one of the city's largest
industries. Until now.

A $1.3 million co-operative project between the city, BC Hydro and
Coquitlam RCMP seems to be nipping these illegal businesses in the
bud. Since the Public Safety Inspection Program began a month ago, 23
properties have been inspected for excessive power use and 21
homeowners were fined $5,000 for a follow-up inspection.

Crews that entered the homes also found building modifications and
other signs a grow-op was previously on the premises, such as mould
and interference with power, and piled on more fines.

The program won't put grow-op owners behind bars. Owners of homes
suspected of housing grow-ops get 48 hours notice of an inspection,
which gives them time to move all their plants and skip town. But it
must be a hassle to move 200-plus plants in the dead of night. Fines
of $5,000 to $7,000 should put a dent in the profits.

Concerns that legitimate businesses might be caught in up in the
crackdown have so far been eliminated. There were no fines levied
against two homes; at one, there was no evidence while the other was
an unauthorized legal business that was using more than its fair share
of power.

People deserving of the hefty fines -- namely, the homeowners -- were
the ones to get slapped. If nothing else, the Public Safety Inspection
Program should at least make landlords more responsible.

Barring the legalization of pot, the most sensible course of action is
to tackle these pot houses as the safety hazards they are.