Pubdate: Thu, 11 Jul 2013
Source: Now, The (Surrey, CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact:  http://www.thenownewspaper.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1462
Author: Jacob Zinn

COUNCIL: MEDICAL POT RULES HAZY

Surrey city council is trying to clear the smoke surrounding new
federal medical marijuana regulations that seem lax on security and
disclosure of grow-ops.

On Monday, council approved provisions in a corporate report to
forward a letter to Health Canada outlining concerns over the health
authority's forthcoming Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations
(MMPR). The MMPR will replace the current Marihuana Medical Access
Regulations (MMAR), which will be repealed on March 31, 2014.

The corporate report notes that nurses and doctors may be permitted to
prescribe medical marijuana, and council fears that without proper
security measures, some health-care practitioners may illegally
distribute marijuana to people who don't medically need it.

"As we're moving forward and moving very closely with Health Canada,
we just wanted to be sure that we are technically on the same page in
terms of the things that we wanted addressed," said Coun. Barinder
Rasode.

While the report notes that there are security measures in place for
grow-op managers and supervisors, no security clearance or criminal
background checks are required for grow-op employees.

Council is also pushing for Health Canada to release the locations of
each medical marijuana production site within the city - not just the
new ones under MMPR, but the old ones under MMAR too.

"There were some concerns in the past with the municipalities having
information and a certain level, from a public safety perspective,
about the control we have over where these facilities were in our
community," said Rasode.

"We want to be sure that when somebody goes to purchase a home that it
is declared that that home was actually used to grow medicinal
marijuana because it does have a significant effect on the structure
of the house."

Earlier this year, council amended a city bylaw to prohibit personal
marijuana growing operations and allow medical marijuana to be grown
only in commercial buildings that are zoned as C-8B.

However, the current MMAR allows licensed growers to harvest weed in
residential properties.

A map of former and current grow-ops throughout the city would also
benefit emergency services - particularly the fire department - as
these sites may have faulty wiring or compromised integrity.

Knowing ahead of time could allow for inspections and repairs to
prevent fire hazards.

Surrey Deputy Fire Chief Dan Barnscher previously told the Now that
the City of Surrey submitted a freedom of information request to
Health Canada and found that there are more than 740 medicinal
licences issued within Surrey.

"Of those 740 licences, there are approximately 540 locations attached
to those licences where they are cultivating medicinal marijuana," he
said.

In addition, council wants to ensure that prospective licensed
producers comply with municipal bylaws, including zoning, building and
business licensing.

Rasode said the city has had discussions with Health Canada and - when
it comes to the long-standing secrecy of grow-op locations - the
health authority seems to be turning over a new leaf.

"This is a public safety issue and we just want to be sure that all
the appropriate regulation is there," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt