An Alternative Approach to Eliminating Residential
Grow Operations

Chief Len Garis
City of Surrey Fire Service
Surrey, BC

Dear Chief Garis:

On behalf of the Canada Safety Council I commend you for the initiative Eliminating Residential Marijuana Grow Operations — An Alternative Approach. In our view, your model should be considered by jurisdictions across the country.

Your report points out that residential marijuana production operations pose a threat to public health and safety. Grow houses are 24 times more likely to catch fire than normal homes. Just last week, there was a fire at a grow house here in Ottawa. On top of blatantly unsafe electrical practices, these operations compromise public health and safety in other ways. Those running these illegal operations may use violence, explosives and booby traps. The humidity fosters the growth of moulds and fungi that are harmful to health. Unapproved “renovations” and sloppy irrigation can compromise the structural integrity of the building itself.

Your Electrical Fire and Safety Investigation Initiative (EFSI) deals with grow operations by enforcing the Safety Standards Act. It puts public safety above criminal prosecution. We agree with you that the criminal justice system simply does not have the capacity to curb BC’s burgeoning pot trade on its own. The problem stretches police resources and overloads the court system — without even coming close to solving the problem.

The results of your trial are impressive. In just 90 days, your team found cause to terminate the power at 78 residences and issue seven-day repair notices at 11 others. It also identified 30 residences with hydro bypasses, of which10 were referred to police and 20 to BC Hydro, which terminated their electricity. This approach would improve safety in residential areas by driving grow-ops out.

As you are aware, under the Criminal Code, the legal process to charge and convict a person is intricate and costly. Innocence is assumed and many protections are provided for the accused. The administrative approach you describe can protect the public by disabling these dangerous operations, and imposing swift and certain consequences on their operators.