GROW OP ACCUSED HAD LICENCE TO GROW MARIJUANA

Firefighters Call on Ottawa to Disclose List of Approved Growers for
Safety Reasons

The fire department is calling on the federal government to disclose
locations of authorized medical marijuana growers, after a police
raid revealed a potentially dangerous grow op.

"The fire service acted solely on the fire and life safety hazards
that were present in the building and is not providing comment or
opinion on the owner's authorization to produce marijuana," assistant
fire chief Jim Jessop said of charges laid against the occupant of a
Robinson Street home who had been approved by Health Canada to grow the drug.

Police searched the older stucco and brick home near Main Street June
20, seizing 119 marijuana plants and one kilogram of dried marijuana
from the third floor of the building.

The drugs had an estimated street value of $129,000.

While Health Canada does allow designated people to legally grow pot,
the crop on Robinson Street far exceeded the allowable limit.

Now, the Niagara Falls Fire Department wants the feds to provide the
locations of the grow ops. They say the home had been altered in such
a way that it posed a danger to occupants - including two young
children -and emergency services personnel.

Jessop said there was evidence of the beginning stages of fire as one
of the powerful lights used to fuel the grow op had charred the floor.

"The lack of compliance with the provisions of the fire code in this
case were tantamount to child abuse," he said, adding there were no
working smoke alarms in the home.

Fire investigators are concerned because municipalities are not
notified of the locations of such operations. Nor are inspections
required to ensure they comply with fire, building and electrical
safety codes. "We have no idea how many of these buildings exist in
our city," Jessop said.

Police would not comment specifically on the issue of a medical
license in relation to the Robinson Street seizure. They did confirm
there are people in Niagara who hold permits.

Staff Sgt. George Ravenek said there are no regulations or conditions
in place to ensure licensed growers are complying with the safety codes.

"If they're not doing it in a safe environment, there's still those
inherent risks," Ravenek said.

Health Canada implemented the Marijuana Medical Access Regulations in
July 2001 to allow people who are suffering from grave and
debilitating illnesses such as multiple sclerosis and arthritis to
have access to marijuana as a painkiller.

As of February 2008, more than 2,400 Canadians held an authorization
to possess dried marijuana under the MMAR, and 1,692 were allowed to
grow the drug for medical purposes.

The majority of approved users, more than 1,000 people, live in Ontario.

Under Health Canada guidelines, approved applicants have the option
of purchasing government-grown pot, using a licensed grower or
growing their own.

The plants can be grown indoors or outdoors, providing criteria are met.

The amount of marijuana that can be grown and stored depends on the
daily amount that has been prescribed by a physician. For example, a
person approved to take five grams of marijuana a day can have 150
grams of dried marijuana per month.

While not commenting on the Robinson Street case, a Health Canada
spokesman said those people are not immune to prosecution.

"If there is suspicion that an authorized person is involved in an
illegal activity, such as cultivation of more than the approved
number of plants under the MMAR or trafficking, law enforcement has
the authority to investigate and take appropriate action," said
Philippe Laroche, a spokesman for the agency.

Meanwhile, the occupants of the Robinson Street home face charges
under the Criminal Code and the Ontario Fire Code.

Due to the severity of the fire code violations, the fire department
ordered the building evacuated.

The home cannot be reoccupied until the fire, electrical, structural
and health hazards are corrected.

"If the municipality is not made aware of the locations of these
operations, we will not be able to ensure they are properly inspected
and cleaned prior to another person purchasing or renting the home,"
Jessop said.

Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor supports the fire department's efforts.

"It makes sense that municipalities are made aware that this is
happening so they can make sure they are meeting all fire codes and
safety codes."

Eric Nash, who with partner Wendy Little owns and operates Island
Harvest Cannabis in British Columbia, which supplies marijuana to
Health Canada licensed patients across the country, says growing
marijuana can be done safely if proper procedures are followed.

"Growing cannabis is no different than growing orchids or exotic
plants in your house," he said. "With proper ventilation and proper
wiring, it certainly can be done safely."