TIGHT LEASH ON LEGAL POT USERS REJECTED

Citing an unreasonable invasion of privacy, B.C. civic leaders
defeated a Surrey initiative that sought to force medical marijuana
growers to prove compliance with local bylaws.

Surrey wanted Ottawa to notify local cities when it licenses new local
users and to make them prove their legal grow-ops are safe and meet
electrical, fire and building codes.

The measure would have helped Surrey and other cities expand their use
of fire code inspections to chase out illegal grow-ops.

Many medical marijuana users have more than just a couple of plants
for personal use - sometimes unsafe commercial-scale plantations,
Surrey Coun. Marvin Hunt told Union of B.C. Municipalities delegates.

But critics called the proposed measure unnecessary and
unconstitutional.

Opponents said police can already get all the information they want
from federal authorities.