OPERATION GONE TO POT

Insurance Problems Force Legal Grower To B.C.

A licensed medicinal marijuana grower has dismantled his operation and
is planning on leaving the province, saying he is tired of dealing
with companies that won't insure his operation.

Tim Selenski, 24, was licensed through Health Canada almost a year ago
to grow marijuana for a Regina man who is allowed to possess the drug
for medical reasons. Until last week, Selenski was growing his first
medicinal marijuana crop out of his home, next to his cannabis
specialty shop, Head to Head Novelties in the 2900 block of Dewdney
Ave.

He is currently licensed to grow up to 15 plants for distribution to
the patient. Because of the nature of the product, Selenski said he
has taken numerous security measures to protect the operation,
including cameras, alarms, guard dogs and a tall chain link fence.

"I'm a small jail here," he said.

Even so, when he tried to have the equipment needed for the grow
operation insured for about $3,000, he was told by his primary insurer
to dismantle the operation within 30 days or risk losing his insurance
on his shop and home as well, he said.

"And that's on my house, store, everything," said Selenski. "There's
$120,000 worth of equity in my life that I've built up. Just to throw
away for 10 plants, it wasn't worth it."

That insurance company, Saskatchewan Mutual Insurance Co., did not
provide an immediate response Wednesday, with media inquiries being
forwarded to head office for reply.

After being refused by that company, Selenski said he took his request
to 11 other companies, all of which similarly refused to insure the
grow operation.

One of those companies was Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI), he
said.

SGI spokesperson Barbara Cross said in general they don't cover
marijuana grow operations at this time, even if it is a licensed
operation, because it is considered too high-risk.

"It's a controlled substance," she said. "There can be implications
for overloads on the electrical system of the building. There can be
increased humidity and possibly mold considerations ... We don't tend
to insure unusual or high-risk situations as an insurance company.
Ours tend to be more ordinary types of coverage situations."

Cross said there are some insurance companies that do take on unusual
or higher-risk situations, though she did not know if licensed
marijuana grow operations were among the situations those companies
might insure.

Because of the insurance problems, Selenski dismantled his grow
operation last week, cutting down and getting rid of the plants.

"I try to keep squeaky clean legally because I don't want to lose my
shop," he said.

But he added it may mean his customer will be left without much
marijuana until Selenski can get to B.C., where he plans to move and
set up a new grow operation for the use of the Regina patient.

Currently, people suffering from illnesses such as cancer, AIDS and
multiple sclerosis can apply to Health Canada to possess marijuana for
medical purposes.