Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
BC - Council has invited Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon MP Chuck Strahl to city hall for a meeting to discuss medical marijuana licensing in the new year.
Council passed a motion Monday requesting some face time with the area's federal representative.
The goal is to address concerns raised by the city's public safety committee around "the operation, licensing and monitoring" of medical marijuana grow operations.
Mayor Sharon Gaetz said the concern is that the federal government, which licenses medical marijuana through Health Canada, has not provided the "scrutiny or the safeguards" to make sure the criminal element is not involved.
"While we respect people's privacy, we also need to keep our community safe," she said. "It's an issue we are just starting to wade into."
They've estimated there are more than 50 legal medical grows in Chilliwack, but because of confidentiality issues city officials are not apprised of where they are located.
"We have bumped into a few of them, and like with other types of grow-ops, ventilation and electricity are issues, as is the number of lights and plants," said Gaetz.
Because Chilliwack was found to have the second highest number of marijuana grow-ops in 2002, city officials have learned to recognize what a grow might look like, she said.
Residents have also reported living next to suspected grow houses, saying "they can hear the fans and that the place is lit up like a Christmas tree."
There's also the concern about the strong smell of the pot plants when the operations are being ventilated, and if the house structures are designed for this use.
"From my perspective as a mayor, we have bylaws to ensure peaceful living for our community," she said. "We want to find a way to make sure they're not growing for reasons other than helping people get through pain."
Staff was asked to look into the zoning question in the new year.
MP Strahl will be asked to offer some insight into the current direction the federal government is taking on medical marijuana.
Council will also ask how it intends to enforce the criminal code, and how it can help local governments keep their communities safe.
NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: bclocalnews.com
Author: Jennifer Feinberg
Copyright: 2010 Black Press Digital
Contact: BCLocalNews.com - Contact Us
Website: BCLocalNews.com - Safeguards sought from medical grow-ops
Council passed a motion Monday requesting some face time with the area's federal representative.
The goal is to address concerns raised by the city's public safety committee around "the operation, licensing and monitoring" of medical marijuana grow operations.
Mayor Sharon Gaetz said the concern is that the federal government, which licenses medical marijuana through Health Canada, has not provided the "scrutiny or the safeguards" to make sure the criminal element is not involved.
"While we respect people's privacy, we also need to keep our community safe," she said. "It's an issue we are just starting to wade into."
They've estimated there are more than 50 legal medical grows in Chilliwack, but because of confidentiality issues city officials are not apprised of where they are located.
"We have bumped into a few of them, and like with other types of grow-ops, ventilation and electricity are issues, as is the number of lights and plants," said Gaetz.
Because Chilliwack was found to have the second highest number of marijuana grow-ops in 2002, city officials have learned to recognize what a grow might look like, she said.
Residents have also reported living next to suspected grow houses, saying "they can hear the fans and that the place is lit up like a Christmas tree."
There's also the concern about the strong smell of the pot plants when the operations are being ventilated, and if the house structures are designed for this use.
"From my perspective as a mayor, we have bylaws to ensure peaceful living for our community," she said. "We want to find a way to make sure they're not growing for reasons other than helping people get through pain."
Staff was asked to look into the zoning question in the new year.
MP Strahl will be asked to offer some insight into the current direction the federal government is taking on medical marijuana.
Council will also ask how it intends to enforce the criminal code, and how it can help local governments keep their communities safe.
NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: bclocalnews.com
Author: Jennifer Feinberg
Copyright: 2010 Black Press Digital
Contact: BCLocalNews.com - Contact Us
Website: BCLocalNews.com - Safeguards sought from medical grow-ops
