Pubdate: Sun, 16 Mar 2008 Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2008 Calgary Herald Contact: http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66 Author: Bal Brach, Canwest News Service Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) 'DREAM HOME' BRINGS LEGAL NIGHTMARE House Used For Marijuana Growth Leads To Lawsuit An Ontario couple thought they had found the perfect place to raise their two young children. But the home of their dreams, located in a good community, soon turned into a nightmare. They had purchased a former marijuana grow op. Four years later, health concerns and legal bills are piling up. The couple, who wish to remain anonymous, say there is evidence of mould in the home and they worry about the health of their two young children. Since moving in, the husband has suffered from sinus infections. "Even if you get the air quality tests, you still have the worry in the back of your mind, 'Is there any mould in the house? Is there anything that's hidden? My children are coughing. Well, is it a cough or is it because of something that's hidden behind the walls?' I don't want to continue to live in a house that might have an effect on me or my children later." These folks found out the hard way they had stumbled into a former drug den. "In my case, it was my neighbour coming out and saying: 'By the way, did you know this house was used as a grow op?' and my mouth dropped," said the husband. The family is now embroiled in a costly legal battle over the purchase of the house. The couple is suing the previous owner, the listing agent and the realtor involved with the transaction. The couple is drained emotionally and financially. "Essentially they've been defrauded," said Toronto-area lawyer Andrew Ruzza. "They've purchased something which is not what they expected." Ruzza, who is representing the family, believes legislation needs to change to protect homebuyers in Canada. In some provinces, such as B.C. and Quebec, privacy issues restrict this type of information. The resale price of a former drug house varies from province to province, but the homes often sell for 10 to 25 per cent below market value. For those thinking of making a quick buck by flipping these properties, be warned: it's costly. "It's definitely not something I'd recommend to the average investor," said B.C.-based contractor Owen Brown, who rehabbed a drug lab in Prince George, B.C., last year. "There was toxic mould everywhere." Brown said the former drug house took six months and cost more than $150,000 to renovate. Mould is linked to a wide range of symptoms and illnesses, including asthma. Health Canada says it can trigger asthmatic attacks as well as other respiratory problems. Mould exposure is also linked to headaches and an increase in allergic reactions. It can be especially dangerous for children and those with weakened immune systems. In an attempt to protect the public, many police forces across the country, including those of Ottawa and Winnipeg, now publish the addresses of busted grow ops on their websites. According to an RCMP report, law enforcement agencies across the country seized nearly two million marijuana plants in 2006. The report estimates 90 per cent of Canada's marijuana is produced in B.C., Ontario and Quebec. In Calgary, health services work with the Calgary police when shutting down a grow op. Alberta is the only province in Canada where public health officers have the status of "executive officers" who can make specific remediation orders to properties. "We disclose this information on a regular basis to the public so they can make an informed decision on whether they want to purchase a home that's been a grow op," said Robert Bradbury, director of health protection for the Calgary Health Region. Bradbury said the CHR website, which lists active and inactive grow ops, is popular among potential home buyers. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek