Pubdate: Wed, 20 Mar 2013
Source: Coquitlam Now, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013Lower Mainland Publishing Group, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.thenownews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1340
Author: Jeremy Deutsch
Page: A10

LEGAL GROW-OP PLAN 'FAILED MISERABLY,' MP SAYS

As far as most Tri-Cities politicians are concerned, the laws around 
legal pot grow-ops are a mess and they want change.

During a visit to his riding on March 13, Port Moody-Westwood-Port 
Coquitlam MP James Moore outlined some of the legislative changes 
coming to the medicinal marijuana grow-op business in Canada.

By March 2014, personal medicinal pot licences will no longer be in 
place and instead, Moore said people who need marijuana will get it 
directly from government-run grow-ops, which would be far away from 
residential neighbourhoods.

Currently under Health Canada regulations, anyone with a licence is 
allowed to grow enough pot for three people in their home.

But Moore suggested the program is virtually impossible to police, 
leading to massive abuse and negative consequences to neighbourhoods.

"It's a program that's failed miserably and it's hurt the quality of 
life for people in Port Coquitlam," he told The NOW, adding the 
program was forced onto the current government by the past Liberal 
government and the Supreme Court of Canada.

"I've had complaints . across the Tri-Cities from people over the 
years who have been frustrated by the residential grow-op program, 
and it's a complete failure."

Both Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam have grappled with the issue of 
murky medical pot laws in the last year.

Last July, Coquitlam council voted to ban unlicensed marijuana 
dispensaries after a shop opened up in Maillardville.

But council also wrote a letter asking the federal government to 
establish the regulatory framework for the production and 
dispensation of medical marijuana.

Just last month, the City of Port Coquitlam shut down a medical 
grow-op that turned out to have more plants in the home than allowed. 
At the time, PoCo Mayor Greg Moore said the current rules around 
legal grow-ops are a drain on resources, mostly because it's up to 
the city to carry out any inspections.

MP Moore, meanwhile, said any government grow-ops under the incoming 
legislation would only be set up after consultation with the 
community. He also reiterated the prime minister's stance on 
marijuana, noting his government has no interest in legalizing the drug.
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