Pubdate: Thu, 15 Jan 2015
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Vancouver 24 hrs.
Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/letters
Website: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: Michael Mui
Page: 3

FINES EYED FOR STINKY GROW-OPS

A $500 fine is being eyed by Langley Township to fight anyone with a
medical grow-op that smells

Langley Township is looking to slap a $500 fine on anyone who owns a
legal marijuana grow-op - there are about 600 in the town - that
produces annoying smells.

According to a proposal filed by township staff this week, the target
of the proposed fines would be those that obtained permits under
Health Canada's old medical marijuana regime, which ended last April,
that allowed users to grow their own pot at home with a Health Canada
licence.

But while that ended last year and restricted those who can grow to
commercial licenced businesses, a Supreme Court ruling - which is
being appealed - has in the meantime allowed the older legal grow ops
to continue.

"Since the majority of the complaints in the town ship stem from the
odours generated by these grows into the ventilating neighbourhoods,
it was felt there needs to be some accountability to the growers to
not impact neighbourhoods with the noxious odours being expelled from
these grows," said the staff report.

"There are reliable filtration systems used for drastic reduction with
respect to the smells exhausted for grow operations (charcoal or
carbon filters) which when installed purify the air being exhausted
into the neighbourhood." The proposal would mean anyone emitting the
odours could incur "daily fines of $500 each day the offence
continues." It's expected the new fine could be used by both RCMP and
township bylaw staff.
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MAP posted-by: Matt