Pubdate: Wed, 15 Jun 2011
Source: Morning Star, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2011 The Morning Star
Contact:  http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1352
Author: Richard Rolke, Vernon Morning Star

VERNON WANTS GROW-OP DETAILS

There is a concern that medicinal marijuana may be fuelling criminal activity.

On Monday, the City of Vernon supported the RCMP's demands that the 
federal government notify enforcement agencies and municipalities on 
where licenses to grow marijuana have been issued.

"We need to know where they are so we can make sure things are 
policed properly and there is no risk to neighbours," said Coun. Bob Spiers .

The RCMP claim licensed medical marijuana-grow sites have led to 
participation by organized crime and home invasions because of the 
potential profits from the illegal sale of marijuana.

A recent study looked at 180 medicinal marijuana-grow sites across 
Canada between 2004 and 2010. It indicated that 67 were involved in 
trafficking and production beyond the terms of the federal license.

"We have had concerns for children in those homes having access to 
chemicals in grow-ops," said Supt. Reg Burgess, with the Vernon RCMP.

"There is insufficient control given to local authorities on where 
medical grow-ops should be."

Burgess says Health Canada only has one inspector per 388 licenses in 
the country.

"Health Canada can license medical marijuana growing sites but it has 
no capacity to inspect them and the community has no capacity to know 
where they are," he said.

Besides potential criminal activity, there is a concern that there is 
an increased risk of fire in grow-ops and chemicals may be dumped 
into the sewer system.

"We can't access who they are under Health Canada," said Clint 
Kanester, the city's bylaw enforcement manager, of federal privacy laws.

Vernon will pursue the matter at the Union of B.C. Municipalities 
convention in September. If there is sufficient support there, the 
federal government will then be lobbied to make changes to its 
notification process.
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.