Research & Resources: Marijuana Grow Operations

October 2017 - "Assessing the Safety of Smart Meter Installations in British Columbia" Analysis of Residential Structure Fires in BC between July 2010 and June 2017

May 2017 - "The Legalization and Regulation of Marijuana and Implications for Local Government" A Literature Review

September 2016 - "Assessing the Safety of Smart Meter Installations in British Columbia" Analysis of Residential Structure Fires in BC between July 2010 and June 2016

August 2013 - Report: "Targeting Marijuana Grow Operations in British Columbia"
A Summary report highlighting current research findings.

June 2013 - Paper: "Cleaning Up Former Drug Operations in Our Residential Neighbourhoods"
A community-led process for addressing contamination from former residential marijuana operations and drug labs.

June 2013 - Paper: "Regulatory Options to Prevent the Unsafe Use of High-powered Hydroponics Equipment"
Drawing attention to the ongoing public safety threat associated with the unsupervised and unsafe installation of hydroponics equipment in homes and regulatory options to mitigate the issue.

October 2012 - Report: "An Updated Review of the Risks and Harms Associated to the Use of Marijuana"
Focusing the marijuana legalization debate on the potential risks and harms associated with marijuana use.

October 2012 - Report: "Revisiting the Issues Around Commercially Viable Indoor Marijuana Growing Operations in British Columbia"
Calling attention to the harms associated with marijuana grow operations.

October 2011 - Report: "The Nature and Extent of Marijuana Growing Operations in Mission British Columbia: A 14-Year Review (1997 - 2010)"
Report based on an examination of operations coming to the attention of police over a fourteen year period.

October 2011 -Report: "The Nature and Extent of Marijuana Growing Operations in the Cariboo Region of British Columbia: A 14 Year Review (1997 – 2010)"
Report based on the examination of operations coming to the attention of police over a fourteen year period.

June 2011 - Paper: "An Analysis of Surrey's Medical Marijuana Grow-ops"
A review of twenty-three grow operations in the city of Surrey reveal a number of fire and electrical safety issues along with bylaw and zoning issues. 

April 2011 - Paper: "Responding to Unhealthy Properties: Developing a Centralized, Consistent Process for Community Safety"
Addressing issues and making recommendations to address the disclosure of inappropriate use of residential properties.

May 2010 - Paper: "The Study of RF Spectrum Emissions in High Pressure Sodium and Metal Halide Lamps"
The testing of a potential new way to locate illegal marijuana grow operations.

April 2010 - Paper: "Disclosure of Controlled Substance Properties and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act"
Public Official's interpretation of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act leads to unanswered questions about the safety of homes for buyers and realtors.

April 2010 - Report: "Improving the Remediation Process for Marijuana Grow Operations"
Suggested remediation improvements for marijuana grow operations.

April 2010 - Report: "Ensuring the Safe Installation of Hydroponics"
An outline of the proposed model bylaw presented in order to promote discussion, input and adoption in British Columbia communities.

November 2009 - Report: "Combating Canada’s Marijuana Grow Industry: Stronger Penalties and Other Deterrents"
A case for stronger penalties and deterrents in order to combat the marijuana trade.

October 2009 - Paper: "Commercially Viable Indoor Marijuana Growing Operations in British Columbia"
The impact of the marihuana production industry and some of the most pressing questions facing policy makers, prosecutors, law enforcement, and the general public on this topic.

September 2009 - Report: "Community Response to Marijuana Grow Operations"
This guide is intended to provide communities with promising practices and information to help them develop their own unique responses to the grow operation public safety threat.

June 2009 - Report: "Police Statistics on Marijuana Drug Files in Surrey, the Lower Mainland, and the Rest of British Columbia 2004-2008: A Comparative Analysis"
Report providing a closer examination of the marijuana drug files coming to the attention of police agencies, particularly to the RCMP detachment in Surrey, British Columbia between 2004 and 2008.

April 2009 - Report: "Disrupting Canada’s Marijuana Grow Industry: Four Deterrents Intended to Limit a Primary Funding Source for Organized Crime Groups"
Report outlining solutions that, if implemented, will have a significant impact on Canada’s marijuana industry, on the crime groups it supports, and on the safety of all Canadian citizens.

March 2008 - FIREFighting in Canada: "Cracking Down"
Software helps communities locate grow-ops and reduces threat to public safety.

December 2006 - FIREFighting in Canada: "New Approach for Grow-Ops"
BC's innovative electrical and fire safety inspection.

July 2005 - Report: "Eliminating Residential Marijuana Grow Operations: EFSI"
This report introduces the EFSI program, an alternative approach to dealing with grow operations that puts public safety above criminal prosecution.