By Tracy Clark - February 01, 2008 Penticton Western (Full article)
Several firearms, numerous plants and more than $50,000 of cultivated marijuana were among the items seized during two marijuana grow-operation busts in South Okanagan homes.Three people are on bail facing a host of charges following the searches by Oliver/Osoyoos RCMP on Jan. 18 and Jan. 23 inside and out of town boundaries.
Such protection is not in place in the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen, where the Jan. 18 grow-op was located. If such a bylaw was in place there, Schur said the rural Oliver home may have been deemed as uninhabitable. “It was obviously a more substantial grow-operation,” said Schur, pointing out that the entire rental property had been used for growing marijuana. “I really think in that case the municipal powers, being the regional district, would have definitely considered condemning that house.” Without such a bylaw in place, the only actions that can be taken include criminal charges and the electrical inspection required before Fortis will restore the electricity. Under the Community Charter, regional districts do not have the authority to enact controlled substances remediation bylaws. But the RDOS has recently passed a motion to lobby the provincial government to change the rules. Once the RDOS has a bylaw in place, Schur said it will be another deterrent for would-be pot growers.
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