Pubdate: Tue, 20 Aug 2013
Source: Peace Arch News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Peace Arch News
Contact:  http://www.peacearchnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1333
Author: Alex Browne

GROWING CONCERN OVER LICENSED OPS

A White Rock mother who has gone public with concerns about a 
licensed marijuana grow operation next door to her Marine Drive home 
says she'd like to encourage others to speak out when neighbourhood 
issues impinge on the quality of their lives.

Lisa Van Vliet approached various media last week - including radio 
and television stations - after being told by police and city 
authorities that they have no grounds to act against residents who 
have a licence to grow marijuana for medical purposes.

Under existing licensing regulations, Health Canada is not obligated 
to inform either police or local governments of the location of 
licensed grow operations.

And White Rock RCMP say privacy concerns make it impossible for 
police to either confirm or comment on such situations.

Van Vliet said her concern is not only the smell of 'pot' that's been 
wafting from the house into the bedrooms of daughters Tayla, 6, and 
Annika, 5, from out-vents barely 10 feet from their windows.

Given the careless upkeep of the property next door, which includes 
an enclosed bunker-like concrete structure behind the house, she also 
has questions and concerns over fire and other safety regulations.

While she has heard there are fewer than 200 marijuana plants on the 
property, and that they are within the growth limit for which it is 
licensed, that doesn't assuage her concerns.

Neither does word that Health Canada regulations are changing when 
current licences expire in March, and that grow operations will then 
have to be at regulated, non-residential sites, with permits and full 
notification of local authorities.

"What are we supposed to do until then?" she said. "These agencies 
are not talking to each other. They say that as long as a licensed 
grower meets Health Canada regulations, there's nothing they can do. 
But what are the Health Canada regulations, and who is enforcing them?"

White Rock city manager Dan Bottrill said that while current 
regulations may have authorities' hands tied in dealing with licensed 
grow operations, the city still wants to know as soon as possible 
when such issues have an impact on residents.

There could be continuing safety problems at a number of properties 
within the city - including bad wiring, other fire risks, presence of 
chemicals and potential mould issues - as former licensed grow 
operations are decommissioned, he said.

"The message is: we're interested in these operations," Bottrill 
said. "While we are currently limited in what we can do, we want to 
do our best to make sure public safety is not at risk."

Van Vliet and her family moved into their home seven months ago. In 
spite of the visible presence of a senior, the next door household 
doesn't seem to conform to any expected residential pattern of 
activity, she noted.

"I'm not out to slay my neighbours. I have no problem with my 
neighbours. I've tried several times to go to them about this, but 
the front gate is usually locked. I've even flagged down one of the 
residents, physically, to talk to me, but all I get is 'no English, 
no English.'"

Van Vliet says she has seen a steady traffic of men parking in the 
pay lot across the street at night, walking to and from the home.

"They stare up here and glare at me," she said. "They're dodgy."

Van Vliet is not being naive, she insists.

"I lived in the West End for years. I'm not the White Rock ostrich 
with her head in the sand. I support marijuana rights. I'm not 
against people growing pot, or smoking pot, particularly for medical 
conditions... but I don't want to be in danger because of others."

Since the first news reports appeared, the smell of marijuana has 
subsided, she said.

"And last night all the lights were on, there were five vehicles 
parked out front and (there appeared to be) a big discussion going on."

Van Vliet said she is frequently asked whether she has fears as a 
result of speaking out on the issue.

"I have fears for my safety, yes, but I wasn't safe before, with this 
going on and the potential fire hazard," she said, adding she and her 
husband are glad they own dogs and that their property is protected 
by surveillance cameras.

"I'm not the only one who's concerned about this," she noted, adding 
that while many may be prepared to speak privately, they aren't 
prepared to take a stand publicly.

"I respect that, but as the mother of a special-needs child, I'm used 
to speaking out. You can't live your life in fear. What am I going to 
do - sit down like a little victim? Fear doesn't give you the life 
you want - it makes you the victim of other people's decisions."

A Health Canada spokesperson promised PAN further clarification of 
current regulation and inspection policies for licensed growers, 
noting they should comply with municipal and provincial regulations.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom