The Nature and Extent of Marihuana Growing Operations in Cariboo Region of British Columbia: A 14 Year Review (1997-2010)

This report describes the nature and extent of marihuana growing operations in the Cariboo region of British Columbia, and, in particular, four communities within that region – 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Quesnel, and Prince George. This report is based on an examination of marihuana growing operations that came to the attention of police over a 14-year period from January 01, 1997 to the end of 2010. Building upon the 2002 research conducted by Plecas et al.,1 as well as the 2005 research conducted by Plecas et al.,2 and using the same methodology, this analysis combined data collected through that previous research with newer data from police file reviews of cases coming to the attention of police between 2004 and 2010. Those police file reviews were completed in 2011 and focused on collecting data about the location of the grow operation, the nature and origin of the complaint, the police investigation, the size and type of the growing operation, the amount of marihuana seized, the presence of other drugs, the presence of various cultivation equipment, and decisions made by the prosecution with respect to criminal charges. Importantly, for comparison purposes, the researchers also had the benefit of being provided with police statistics on the number of marihuana growing operations coming to the attention of police throughout British Columbia for the period 2004 through 2010.

 

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