KIEFER CALLS FOR HOME-GROW CRACKDOWN

CAMBRIDGE -- Cambridge Coun. Karl Kiefer says every municipality in
Waterloo Region must take a stand against dangerous home-grow pot
operations to save people from being killed. "It is a concern because
people could die," he said.

Tonight, Cambridge council will vote on a motion brought forward by 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.

Police raids over the past year have shut down more than 60 pot-growing
operations across Waterloo Region.

While most of them have been in Kitchener, more than a half-dozen have
occurred in Cambridge.

During most home-grow busts, hydro-electricity has been bypassed with crude
wiring systems that usually insulated properly and can be live.

These crude set-ups can cause fires in the home and pose a danger to other
nearby houses.

Also, the ground can be electrified, which means that someone walking up to
the hydro bypass area could easily receive a shock, especially if the
ground is wet.

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.

The city council meeting in Cambridge will be held at 46 Dickson St. It
starts at 7 p.m.

Anyone who wants to speak on the home-grow issue can sign up with the city
clerk before the meeting.

In its motion, Kitchener council also 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.

Kiefer also said he hopes to to talk to Staff Sgt. Ray Massicotte of the
Waterloo regional police drug squad to get a better understanding on how
widespread a problem home-grow operations are in Cambridge.