MARIJUANA GROWERS SET UP SHOP IN DOWNTOWN SMITHS FALLS

Licence Still Pending; Angry Area Residents Want Operation
Moved

A Smiths Falls medicinal marijuana grow operation has been quietly
growing cannabis for months, even though its premises have not yet
been zoned for a greenhouse and a Health Canada licence to operate the
facility is still pending.

These revelations were made public last night at a meeting of the
planning committee of town council, which heard a proposal to amend
the town's zoning bylaw for the offices of Carasel Harvest Supply
Corporation.

The corporation rents space in a building that once housed a Canadian
Tire store downtown. The space is currently zoned as a clinic, but
Carasel wants the zoning changed to allow for a greenhouse operation.

However, upon moving into the space in February, Carasel immediately
began preparations for the growing of organic marijuana, including the
installation of an advanced ventilation system and commercial alarms.

At the meeting, Carasel CEO Samantha Klinck told council and town
residents that her company "did not want to make a big stir" out of
the operation, partially to thwart unwanted interest from potential
marijuana thieves.

Although Ms. Klinck said the Health Canada licence is still pending,
Carasel has been growing marijuana for several months.

Unlike other medicinal marijuana grow operations, Car-asel's cannabis
is not grown hydroponically, but organically in soil.

"It's healthier -- people are ingesting this, not only smoking it and
we expect our results to be better than those of the government's
crop. ... We're dealing with very sick people who need this as quickly
as possible.

"We're doing our best to be as upfront as possible, and we hope that
we don't meet much resistance," she said. "We'd rather have support
from the community."

But Gladys Weinstein, who lives next door to the business, voiced
objections to the amendment last night. She questioned the wisdom of
the town potentially sanctioning the growth of an illegal substance.

But town clerk Elaine Mallory informed council and observers that "the
nature of growth of vegetation isn't relevant" under the re-zoning
bylaw.

Furthermore, city councillor and planning committee member Gerry
Huddleston said police Chief Larry Hardy "expressed no concern" over
the operation. "At our first meeting with the people from Carasel, the
chief was right on their side."

Ms. Klinck agreed that police response has been positive, adding that
attitude has boosted her confidence and that of her co-workers.

"We don't worry about the police because they have been amazingly
supportive, and besides, we don't feel that we're doing anything
wrong. What we're doing is no different from growing
watermelons."

Nonetheless, Ms. Weinstein was opposed to the proposal. "I understand
that it's legal to grow medicinal marijuana now, but it's unsavoury,
and I don't want it going on next door."

Town council will vote on the zoning issue next Monday.