Pubdate: Wed, 12 Jun 2002 Source: Kitchener-Waterloo Record (CN ON) Copyright: 2002 Kitchener-Waterloo Record Contact: http://www.therecord.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225 Author: Mike Ritter Note: Mike Ritter, of RR 1, New Hamburg, is a veterinarian and a member of CLEAN -- Community Link Empowered Against Narcotics. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) HOME BUYERS NEED INFORMATION ON FORMER POT HOUSES I fully support the recommendations put forth by several local MPs to make public background information about the history of pot grow houses. Their recommendations were mentioned in the June 4 article, Divulge Pot Houses' History To Buyers: MP. The frequent busts of these lucrative operations have become an alarming trend within our region. The reason our local municipalities have been targeted is only speculative; however, it's apparent that no street, urban or rural, can claim exemption from this escalating problem. The significant result of this trend is that our young people in senior public and high schools have ready access to marijuana. While not everyone agrees on the negative effects of casual marijuana use, statistics support the theory that heavier drug use generally begins with casual experimentation with "weed." Our judicial system has been questioned for inconsistencies in sentencing as the penalties handed down by our judges have varied from house arrests and fines to, more recently, some jail time for involvement in these sophisticated operations. In many cases, defence lawyers would wish the courts and the public to believe participants are new to the country and are often merely tenants naive about what they are actually involved in. The potential for an economic loss on these properties based on disclosure of grow house operations will also add to the penalty that is deserved for tarnishing our neighbourhoods and our kids. Our local judges have implied that their hands are tied until the lawmakers in Ottawa provide them with better options for sentencing. They have also stated publicly that the Crown must build their cases based on the impact of the crime and do their homework better about hydro theft, risk of fire, explosion and the community impacts of these grow houses. Change begins with each one of us, and I write this in support of two members of Parliament, Dan McTeague and Karen Redman, because they have recognized the possibility for another potential public health hazard associated with these houses. Their proposals, if accepted, would protect unsuspecting buyers and their families from a list of potentially chronic and possibly unnamed airborne diseases of an allergic nature -- remember the fears of exposure to urea formaldehyde within our homes? While the largest source of urea formaldehyde in the household has been debated, the risk of repeated exposure resulted in a standard clause in all real estate purchase transactions in Ontario prohibiting the sale of properties without disclosure of urea formaldehyde insulation in homes. This legislation provides protection for otherwise unsuspecting purchasers to reduce any potential health hazards associated with exposure to urea formaldehyde. The article states that Chris Eby, a spokesman for Tim Hudak, the provincial minister of consumer and business services, didn't know about health concerns associated with grow houses. Perhaps further investigation will provide insight into the health risks associated with chemical exposure and mould presence within these homes. A comparison to this issue has been the identification of occupational respiratory conditions that have been identified due to airborne moulds found in portable school units. Eby's response suggests that little action will likely be taken to affect changes in the legislature because, "from our perspective, this is an issue that is not crying out for attention." Why wait until a problem arises; we can make a difference. Write a letter or e-mail a response to the office of Hudak, the minister of consumer and business services, or write a short note to support the efforts of our local MPs. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager