The Royal Canadian Mounted Police along with the Government of Canada and a variety of business and community partners launched a national strategy to combat marihuana grow operations(MGOs) entitled the Marihuana Grow Initiative (MGI).
Complimentary to the National Anti-Drug Strategy, the MGI was developed in collaboration with subject matter experts from across the country and represents the RCMP’s renewed commitment to fight marihuana production controlled by organized crime groups. Based on three key components: Awareness, Deterrence and Enforcement; the MGI outlines how the RCMP will work with partners and community members. It helps inform the Canadian public about the consequences, inherent hazards and destructive impacts these activities and criminal groups have on their communities.
The RCMP is also launching a new page on the public website that will act as a centralized database of residences where a MGO or clandestine lab was dismantled by the RCMP under the authority of a search warrant. This site will be consistently updated with new properties and it will also provide guidance and feature resources for landlords and buyers alike concerning the damages that MGOs and clandestine labs have on a property and its occupants.
The Canadian Real Estate Association participated in the announcement, endorsing the creation of a national website for dismantled MGOs and clandestine labs. OREA has lobbied at the provincial level for eight years to create a registry of former marijuana grow operations.
“Grow ops have become a major concern for homebuyers and REALTORS® across the country. REALTORS® are committed to protecting the interests of our clients and believe that buyers should be able to determine whether a house for sale has housed a grow op in the past,” stated Gary Morse, CREA President. “The structural integrity and inhabitability of such houses may be compromised and prospective buyers need to know that costly remediation may be needed to correct health and safety issues.”
For information on the RCMP’s new strategy, please visit: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/fio-ofi/grow-ops-culture-eng.htm
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