HOME-GROWS HURTING NEIGHBOURHOODS: COWSILL

Hespeler Councillor Rick Cowsill says he doesn't think home-grow pot
operations are epidemic in Cambridge and he wants it to stay that way.

Cowsill - whose ward hasn't been immune to home-grow pot operation busts -
said the biggest problem they pose are the deterioration of neighbourhoods.

"One of the things that worries me is the criminal element is becoming
very, very close to the neighbourhood and the character of the
neighbourhood is suffering."

The Hespeler ward was subject to a major house fire at 369 Scott Rd. on
Dec. 27, 2000, as the result of a home-grow pot operation that went wrong.

Due to hydro being bypassed - which means being stolen - the wires used to
do that weren't secured and insulated properly and caused a fire. No one
was seriously injured.

In such instances, the ground can be electrified and someone walking up to
the hydro bypass area could easily be electrocuted, especially if the
ground is wet.

Cambridge council voted unanimously last night to approve a motion brought
forward by Councillor Karl Kiefer that was first introduced by Kitchener
councillors last month. It recommends strict penalties against those who
operate illegal pot-growing operations out of homes.

Waterloo Regional Police raids since the middle of 2000 have shut down more
than 60 pot-growing operations.

Waterloo councillors have endorsed the Kitchener motion, which calls for a
minimum of five years in jail for anyone caught growing marijuana in a
residence.

In its motion, Kitchener council called on the provincial and federal
governments to:

* Maintain the criminalization of marijuana.

* Give more of the proceeds seized from home-grow operations to local
police to help them fight drugs.

* Consider giving fire prevention officials more power to inspect homes
that may pose a risk to their occupants and neighbours.

* Make illegal drugs, organized crime and drug abuse a topic of debate at
the next meeting of Canada's first ministers.

Cambridge Tory MPP Gerry Martiniuk said he supports the motion but said the
issue of penalties for drugs is a federal government responsibility because
it falls under the Criminal Code.

In fact, the convictions are so lenient it helps make pot-growing
operations lucrative, he said, because there is little fear among criminals.