Pubdate: Thu, 28 Feb 2013
Source: Chilliwack Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Chilliwack Times
Contact:  http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1357
Author: Paul J. Henderson

GROW OPS SPREADING LIKE WEEDS

It's a question of where legal medicinal pot growing should take
place

Since there are 590 legal medical marijuana growers in Chilliwack and
Health Canada has no rules that stipulate where pot should be grown,
cannabis production takes place in commercial buildings, residential
basements and agricultural outbuildings.

On one rural road in Chilliwack, neighbours of a suspicious medical
marijuana grow operation have had concerns for years. The property has
an alarmed security fence, a large dog and fans that run 24 hours a
day, seven days a week, inside outbuildings so large they dwarf the
neighbouring single-family homes.

But concern turned to outright fear last Saturday when at least 10
trucks drove down the rural road, each dropping off a shipping
container onto the five-acre property.

"I know myself what a small marijuana grow operation looks like," said
one neighbour on condition of anonymity. "I have no opinion about
medical marijuana. But this is a commercial operation that is supposed
to be residential. And it's in the ALR."

Another neighbour expressed real concern about the dumping of plants,
fertilizer and other chemicals and what effect that could have on
their drinking water.

"This grow-op appears to be under a time crunch and is in full gear
expanding to a commercial size grow-op," she said. "I have concerns
that Health Canada will continue to allow the legal grow-ops in the
rural areas.

"Health Canada have legalized these grow-ops with no regulations and
no safety checks. . . . residents need to know the risks to their
water supply."

Coming changes to the federal government's medical marijuana access
regulations (MMAR) mean growing marijuana will no longer be allowed in
homes but exactly what the new program will look like is unclear.

The proposal would see a number of larger commercial/industrial
growers providing the marijuana, which could mean even small
commercial operations will be forced to shut down.

Last week the city received a legal opinion that said farmland and the
Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) is "an appropriate place to grow pot,"
Mayor Sharon Gaetz told the Times.

This is of concern to the city given community interest that farmland
be used to grow food, according to Gaetz.

But also for tax reasons. "Residential and business subsidize farmers
heavily and I think most people would be appalled to think they were
subsidizing marijuana growers," Gaetz said.

Health Canada asked for feedback on the proposed changes to the MMAR
up until Feb. 28. Those changes will come into effect April 1, 2014,
with the current MMAR program being phased out in the fall in favour
of the marijuana for medical purposes regulations (MMPR).

On Feb. 25, the city issued its formal response to the program and
asked questions about the disclosure of locations, zoning, building
codes and business licences.

"Our community's police force, fire department and staff are very
concerned about how people are hiding behind the current rules to
conduct illegal activity and subsequently putting the safety of
Chilliwack citizens in danger," wrote director of development Lisa
Thompson in the letter.

A third neighbour of the rural property in question told the Times
there are possible gang connections to the owner.

The number of medicinal marijuana growers locally and provincewide has
tripled in just one year, something that Gaetz said she predicted
would happen.

The number of growers in B.C. rose from 3,831 in January 2012 to
11,601 (9,369 personal use and 2,232 designated growers) as of Feb.
18. That compares to a total of 9,846 growers in the nine other
provinces and three territories combined.

Many critics of the MMAR program say the criminal element have moved
into medicinal marijuana production. With virtually no site
inspections or enforcement or monitoring of distribution, producing
more than a licence allows, and selling illicitly, is simple.

One neighbour of a large medical marijuana grow operation in a
residential area told the Times the stench is constant and a real
nuisance. He's also concerned that the city is unable to inspect and
Health Canada seems unwilling.

But that pales in comparison to the concern about living next to a
marijuana grow operation with little security if one day someone
decides to rip it off and picks the wrong house. He also thinks the
growing at this location is connected to gangs.

"These people, they don't make deals with pens, they use glocks," he
added.

The subject is so sensitive that neighbours don't want to talk on the
record for fear of reprisals, and the growers themselves are quick to
lawyer up.

When one local grower was asked about the expansion underway in their
commercial unit, the Times was threatened with legal action.

Gaetz said that after a number of complaints, the last time city staff
escorted by the RCMP paid a visit to the rural grow operation in this
story, they were met at the gate by a lawyer who allowed city staff in
and refused the police entry.

The mayor wonders why there is so much secrecy and clandestine
behaviour given the legality of growing medicinal marijuana.

"This is supposed to be an above-board operation," she said. "So why
should people have to be afraid of things that they say? That would
not happen in any other zoning issue in our city. It's wrong."

One grower contacted the Times after the Feb. 26 story to say the
topic was being sensationalized and the vast majority of growers are
responsible and abide by the rules.

Gaetz said that may be true but city hall hears a lot of complaints
about growers who don't follow the rules.

"The only way that you find out is through complaints and the conflict
in our community is not about ones growing responsibly," she said.

But those who suffer serious medical conditions and who rely on
marijuana to relieve symptoms fear the loss of personal production
licences and the increased per gram cost that will come with the MMPR.

Jason Wilcox suffers from a terminal illness, grows marijuana for
personal use and is the CEO of the newly formed MMAR Coalition Against
Repeal. He said the proposed changes will trample patient rights.

"Our main concern is the barriers that may exist in relation to
accessing medication," Wilcox told the Times. "And the courts have
already ruled that access needs to be fair and reasonable.

"I can't afford the projected prices."
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MAP posted-by: Matt