Summary
"The focus of this report is the police response to the high number of marihuana grow operations they are attending in the province of British Columbia. The Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia estimates there are 20,000 grow-ops in the Lower Mainland alone, and at least that or more in the rest of the province (Francis, 2001 ). According to police statistics, the number of marihuana grow operations has grown significantly over the past five years. In 1996, for example, police in the city of Richmond attended less than fifty cultivation operations. ... The marihuana cultivation industry represents a growing burden on police resources. The number of grow operations police are attending and the time and resources needed to investigate them has increased significantly. ... The problems associated with the marihuana growing industry go beyond the cost of providing police services, and cross boundaries into other provinces and countries where the marihuana is distributed. For the purpose of this report, however, the focus will remain on the province of British Columbia. This research will determine which strategies currently being employed to combat marihuana grow operations are the most effective and will attempt to open the doors of communication so that all British Columbia police departments can effectively coordinate their efforts in this area."--Study background.