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.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager