WEED OUT MARIJUANA OPERATIONS: CLEMENT

COBOURG - Cobourg's police chief wants local business and political leaders
to come together with police to put a stop to illegal marijuana grow
operations. "I will be seeking a commitment from our elected officials and
business leaders to help us educate people and develop ways in which we can
stop the spread of marijuana grows in our community," states Chief Garry
Clement.

On Wednesday, the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police released a study
called 'Green Tide: Indoor Marihuana Cultivation and It's Impact on
Ontario.' The study analyzes marijuana grow operations and their impacts
from 2000 to 2002 across the province. During the two-year span of the
study, indoor marijuana grow operations increased by 250 per cent, with
over 15,000 grow operations operating in 2002 and 1.2 million plants
seized. Revenue from the grow operations is estimated be as high as $12.7
billion.

"Grow operations are a threat to all neighbourhoods," says Chief Clement.
"We have to step outside of the box and make sure we go after them with a
vengeance. We are dealing with ruthless, well-financed, organized crime."

The study notes in 2002, grow operations resulted in up to $85 million in
stolen electricity and that grow operation homes are 40 times more likely
to have a fire than a regular household.

"The best thing we can do right now is raise public awareness around the
issue. We have to educate people as much as we can," believes Chief Clement.

An example of a community partnership created to raise public awareness
about home grow operations happened this past October when the pamphlet
'Marijuana Home Grow Operations- What You Need to Know' was published.
Cobourg, Port Hope, Peterborough Lakefield and Ontario Provincial Police
forces teamed up with Lakefront Utilities, Veridian Corporation and
Peterborough Utilities to publish 60,000 copies of the pamphlet which
highlighted 10 possible indicators for residents to consider if they see
suspected marijuana home grow operations. Northumberland and Peterborough
police services dismantled over 15 home grow operations last year, seizing
$8 million worth of marijuana.

"Commercial marijuana grow operations are located in urban and rural
communities, including residential areas," states Chief Clement. "We need
everyone's help in stopping this menace to our community."

The report also states that as many as 10,000 children and their families
may have been raised in home grow operations between 2000 and 2003. These
children and families are exposed to health safety risks due to the
chemicals used in the grow operations and the physical violence associated
with such operations notes Chief Clement.

"We have to do anything we can within our bylaws, if we can, to address
this issue," adds Chief Clement.

Chief Clement would also like to see local politicians apply more pressure
to their provincial and federal counterparts to help create stronger laws
surrounding convictions and sentences associated with home grow operations.

Condemning houses after they have been discovered to be home grow
operations would be a start, says the chief.