BOARD AIMS TO NIP GROWS IN THE BUD

Before the end of the year, those wanting to sell their home may be required
to disclose to prospective buyers whether the property has ever been used to
grow marijuana, or perhaps even housed a drug lab.

Both the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley Real
Estate Board have made a formal request lto the B.C. Real Estate Association
to amend the property condition disclosure statement, used during real
estate sales, to include a reference to marijuana growing operations.

"This is something that has to be nipped in the bud," Vancouver Real Estate
Board president Bill Binnie said this week.

"Grow ops are a huge problem. Realtors are very concerned with the health
and safety of the community. We want to make sure the buyers of property are
getting complete information."

If the provincial real estate association approves the move, Richmond RCMP
Supt. Ward Clapham said it would be an invaluable tool in the fight to shut
down grow ops.

"That would be a huge benefit for us and for the community if that turned
into reality. Absolutely I would applaud that. I would be ecstatic."

Binnie said the Vancouver board is the largest member of the provincial real
estate association, and the Fraser Valley board is the second largest. He
predicts that, barring anything unforeseen, the new disclosure requirement
will become a reality.

In the event sellers are not truthful in the disclosure, which they would be
required to sign as part of the contract of sale, it would give the buyer an
avenue for legal recourse should, for example, a grow rip occur sometime in
the future. Binnie noted his board has for some time recommended to its
member realtors to request sellers to voluntarily disclose information about
marijuana growing operations.

David Herman, president of the B.C. Real Estate Association, said a
committee of realtors and lawyers will carefully study the proposal and its
implications during their next meeting in February.

"On face value, it's something we need to address and discuss," Herman said
of the proposal. "If the committee decided to (approve the proposal it)
certainly would happen before 2005."

Asked how much it would cost to make changes to the disclosure statement,
Herman said: "There's a financial investment, but it's negligible."

Asked whether the disclosure could be expanded to include drug labs, Herman
said: "That's probably a good suggestion," adding that he would ask the
committee to discuss a broader definition aside from just marijuana growing
operations.

Although marijuana seems to be the biggest drug-related problem in the Lower
Mainland today, Clapham said that could change. He'd like to see the
association be proactive and include drug labs in the disclosure
requirement, noting that these clandestine facilities use toxic drugs that
can have adverse health impacts on a home.