Langley’s top cop appears to be less than enthused about the rise of legal marijuana grow-ops popping up around town.
At a town-hall-style meeting hosted by the RCMP at Brookswood Secondary last week, a woman, who said she was sure there was a grow-op on her street, asked Supt. Murray Power about a “criminal element” that may go along with marijuana growing.
“It’s a concern,” said Power, before pausing and adding, while laughing: “How’s that for a sensitive answer?”
“You know, a lot of churchgoers aren’t growing a lot of dope,” he said.
Canadians who are licensed by Health Canada are allowed to grow pot for the medicinal use of themselves or others. The laws allowing this are a result of rulings made by the Supreme Court of Canada.
“Every Supreme Court decision has gone the way of the growers and users,” said Power.
He encouraged the approximately 25 people in attendance to report any house they suspect of being a grow-op to the police, so that they may cross-reference the address with a list they have of legal growers.
“As a citizen, you want to watch. You want to watch the activity. It’s something we can definitely look into,” he said.