Pubdate: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 Source: Record, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc. Contact: http://www.royalcityrecord.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1654 Author: Theresa McManus, Record Reporter POT PLACE IRKS COUNCIL The City of New Westminster isn't high on the federal government's decision to grant a licence for a medical marijuana operation in Queensborough. New Westminster police and city hall recently learned that the residents of a rental property in Queensborough had obtained the necessary permits pursuant to the Marijuana Medical Access Regulation to cultivate marijuana for medical purposes. The operation has raised concerns among area residents and city hall abut neighbourhood safety, health and safety of the residence and restrictions on marijuana producers. "What were they smoking when they came up with this idea?" quipped Coun. Jerry Dobrovolny about the federal government's decision to grant a licence without seeking city input. According to a staff report, staff are pursuing an inspection of the property to determine if it complies with city bylaws and to determine if there are any fire or safety hazards within the property. The property owner does not object to the inspection, but the occupants have requested written notice before they will permit an inspection. On Monday night, city council approved three recommendations related to medical marijuana: * To write to the local member of Parliament, the official opposition, and the federal health minister to inform them of the city's concerns regarding the Marijuana Medical Access Regulation. * To have staff pursue an inspection of the local rental property to determine if the Marijuana Factory complies with the city's bylaws and regulations and deems that it is safe. * To direct the city solicitor to obtain the necessary court order if the occupants or owner of the property fail to voluntarily permit staff to conduct an inspection. "I was absolutely flabbergasted the federal government would take this kind of action without any local impact at all," said Dobrovolny, noting the city's concerns have nothing to do with the legalization of marijuana. "This is simply about safety of neighbourhoods." Dobrovolny said he doesn't believe it's appropriate for an operation growing up to 300 plants to be located in a residential neighbourhood or for an operation to grow that many plants without being inspected by the city to ensure it meets safety requirements. According to Dobrovolny, the federal government has said that federal inspectors will ensure the safety of medical marijuana operations - but no inspectors are located in Western Canada. The Queensborough Residents' Association is demanding that city hall prohibit all marijuana grow operations in Queensborough, whether legal or not. Following concerns raised by several residents, the QRA passed a motion stating that Queensborough residents do not want grow operations in the neighbourhood because they contravene local community safety and health standards and will attract undesirable criminal elements into their peaceful community. "We will do everything we can without our power legally to deal with the issue. We will do it in a timely manner," said Mayor Helen Sparkes. "We are taking this matter extremely seriously and doing all we can." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom