This guide presents what the City of Surrey has learned about dealing with the problem of marijuana grow operations over the last five years.
Because all British Columbians have the right to live in safe, crime-free neighbourhoods, I believe that communities need to work together to share promising practices.
One of our primary reasons for creating this guide is a concern about how our success has affected other communities. Recent research shows that marijuana production in Surrey declined more than 80% from 2004 to 2008, a greater decrease than seen in the rest of the Lower Mainland and British Columbia. While this is a strong endorsement of our efforts, it also indicates that the problem is likely being displaced to other communities – particularly those without safety inspection programs.