POT BYLAW INTRIGUES MAPLE RIDGE

Local Interest is growing over a proposed Chilliwack bylaw that put the onus on landlords to monitor their properties for evidence of marijuana grow operations.

The unique legislative approach being taken by the Fraser Valley city would require landlords to inspect their rental properties and report back to city hall every three months to indicate if pot is being produced or labs manufacturing other, harder drugs have been set up.

Landlords could face a fine of up to 10,000 if a grow op is found on their property and they've failed to notify the city or police.

Tenants caught growing the dope would also be on the hook for a $10,000 fine if caught by police.

"The stakes are pretty high," said a spokesperson for the city, adding the bylaw is aimed at unscrupulous landlords who take a don't ask don't tell approach to managing their rental suites and homes.

"The people who will have a problem ( with the bylaw ) are the people who accept rent in cash at the local Husky station."

So far Chilliwack politicians have given the bylaw three readings and are awaiting legal authority from senior levels of government before a final vote.

On Monday Maple Ridge councillors discussed the possibility of using the Chilliwack bylaw as a model that could be applied locally to help curb the ever-growing problem of grow ops.

While any move by the district to pursue such a bylaw is a ways off, District of Maple Ridge Mayor Kathy Morse said, the RCMP, fire department and district staff will examine the ramifications of creating one similar.

"I think the grow op issue is a huge problem for everybody ( and ) this is one level of trying to address that.  People want us to do what we can and we're limited."

However, not all council members saw the bylaw as an effective means of ridding the community of grow ops.

"It's so linear, it's not taking care of the problem," said, Coun.  Craig Speirs.

Speirs further added that going after landlords does not get to the root of the marijuana problem.

"It's chipping away at the edges .  .  .  and re-victimizes the landlord," he said.

Coun.  Judy Dueck said the bylaw is aimed at rental properties while there is an increasing amount of proprietors of pot "buying up blocks of houses."

A similar bylaw, she added, would be ineffective.