Pubdate: Wed, 17 Sep 2014
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Vancouver 24 hrs.
Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/letters
Website: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: Jane Deacon
Page: 4

GROW-OP PRIVACY ENDANGERS RESIDENTS: ABBOTSFORD

Health Canada's Privacy Policy on Medical Marijuana Grow-Ops Puts 
Homebuyers and Residents at Risk, Says Abbotsford Council.

Health Canada does not provide addresses of licensed production 
sites, so the city has had multiple instances of homebuyers 
unknowingly purchasing former grow-op locations - leaving them with 
costly repair bills to fix tampered electrical wires and mould 
issues, said Coun. Henry Braun.

"It's a hardship," said Braun. "Somebody buys a house and they 
basically have to gut the inside of it. You're talking $50,000 and 
for some people, they can't do it. And yet they own the house."

The policy also prevents local governments from inspecting the safety 
of a licensed site, said Braun.

Abbotsford council has submitted a motion to the Union of B.C.

Municipalities meeting later this month asking to change the policy.

Health Canada does not provide addresses because of the Privacy Act, 
said a department spokesperson. Instead, they will address 
municipalities' concerns by sharing the number of production licenses 
authorized in a city and a breakdown by postal code.

Braun said privacy concerns need to be negotiated.

"I think the safety aspect and the financial hardship outweighs the 
privacy issue," he said. "For safety reasons, we have cameras by the 
tens of thousands all over the place."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom