Tracknum: 7420.5.2.1.1.0.20041127062824.00bae180 Pubdate: Sat, 27 Nov 2004 Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2004 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/TorontoSun/home.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457 Author: Alan Findlay and Antonella Artuso, Queen's Park Bureau Note: Follow this series at http://www.mapinc.org/source/Toronto+Sun Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) GRITS EYE GROW-OP HOME HEALTH ISSUES ONTARIO HEALTH Minister George Smitherman is vowing to look into health issues surrounding homes that once housed marijuana grow operations. Many of those homes are later resold to unsuspecting buyers who face significant health and safety hazards ranging from mouldy walls to unstable structures. "That's an issue that (Public Safety) Minister (Monte) Kwinter has the lead on, but I'm happy to take the health-related aspect issue of that up and deal with him directly on it," Smitherman said. According to a ministry of health spokesman, most moulds do not produce any reaction, depending on the sensitivity of the individual and whether the moulds are dispersed or not. Mandatory Disclosure The local health unit would investigate and determine whether there is a health hazard to new tenants, the spokesman said. The Health Protection and Promotion Act protects the public from environmental hazards. Community Safety Minister Monte Kwinter said the real estate industry is looking at making it mandatory to disclose to potential buyers if a dwelling has been used as a grow operation. Under the Real Estate Act, the onus is on the real estate broker to disclose negative facts, he said. Proposed government legislation introduced by Kwinter earlier this fall will also mandate inspections of buildings police have identified as a pot house. Inspectors would then be able to issue orders that the home be brought up to minimum standards. Municipal affairs and housing official James Douglas said the legislation will provide municipalities with the tools to enforce such clean-ups. "It's really up to municipalities to enforce," Douglas said.