| Photo: CTV |
| Brian Gladstone, Griffin Security: “The only way to be certain is to go inside and have a look, but this gives the landlord a reason to go have a look” |
A former Canadian Mountie in British Columbia is offering a controversial new service designed to help landlords tell if their tenants are cultivating indoor marijuana gardens.
Brian Goldstone of Griffin Security uses infrared cameras to detect unusual amounts of heat inside a home from the outside, reports Brent Shearer at CTV News. He wants landlords to hire him to search for marijuana operations on their properties.
“The only way to be certain is to go inside and have a look, but this gives the landlord a reason to go have a look,” Goldstone said.
| Photo: CTV |
| The infrared camera used by Griffin Security to supposedly detect indoor marijuana grows |
Goldstone is offering the service to landlords for $75 a month.
The B.C. Civil Liberties Association said use of the infrared cameras falls in a legal gray area.
“Is it reasonable for your landlord to be conducting such an inspection of heat usage in your house? Would that be considered reasonable? We’re not sure — we haven’t seen that case yet,” said BCCLA Policy Director Michael Vonn.
Some communities in B.C. have tried cracking down on grow-ops through controversial bylaws monitoring electricity use.
Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart said he’s unsure about the new technology, but supports the idea of property owners taking action to protect their investment.
“I wouldn’t want this tool to be used as the only one for a landlord,” Stewart said. “Clearly the landlord that is contemplating it is going to have to go in and have a look himself. The law does permit landlords to go in and have a look.”
The law does say, however, that tenants have the right to a “reasonable degree” of privacy.
For CTV’s video report, click here.