Pubdate: Wed, 30 Jan 2013
Source: Tri-City News (Port Coquitlam, CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Tri-City News
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/3X3xlf9Y
Website: http://www.tricitynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1239
Author: Gary McKenna

POCO PANS GROW OPS

Residents, Mayor Agree But The Feds Make Weed Rules

A group of Citadel Heights residents want the city of Port Coquitlam
to intervene and stop a licensed marijuana grow operation in a home in
their neighbourhood.

Doug McRae, who lives in the area, said residents surrounding the
house are scared that the neighbourhood could be a target for criminal
activity, putting other homeowners in danger.

"Think about a house or grow op being raided by gun-carrying
criminals," he told council during Monday night's meeting. "That is
what the people in Governor Court and Royal Court are living with everyday."

He said councillors need to come up with actions to make it clear that
marijuana grow operators are not welcome in PoCo - licensed or not.

Keith Harrison, a resident of the area since 1989, said the smells
coming from the house have hurt his quality of life. He also said he
has noticed an increase in vehicle traffic to the home since the grow
operation began.

"What is the difference between a licensed grow operation and an
illegal one?" he said. "There should be no growing commercial plants
inside residential houses."

Mayor Greg Moore said he shares residents' concerns but added there is
little the city can do. Many municipalities have struggled with
similar issues, he added, noting that Surrey has recently sent letters
to the federal government calling for changes to the medical marijuana
regulations.

OUTRAGE

Moore said that the house in Citadel Heights has been inspected and is
not in violation of any building codes and is adhering to the rules
set out in its grow licence.

"We share your outrage that the federal government allowed this to
occur," he said. "If it is a permitted use, the federal government
says this can be allowed in a municipality, we are not allowed to ban
that use."

In December, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced the federal
government was poised to eliminate licensed medical marijuana grow ops
in homes and shift to a new system involving commercial producers.

Civic officials have argued that most home growers are producing far
more plants than they require, and the program has been criticized for
safety concerns and connections to the illegal drug trade.

The federal Ministry of Health said it intends to implement the system
by March 31, 2014, at which point all current licences to possess or
produce pot would expire.

The government is holding a comment period for the public to give
feedback on the proposal; for more information, go to www.hc-sc.gc.ca
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D