FCABC ECHOES CALL TO REGULATE MEDICAL GROW OPERATIONS

October 14, 2009 - In light of the denial of support from the Union of
BC Municipalities (UBCM) for the regulation of Medical Marijuana Grow
Operations, the Fire Chiefs' Association of BC (FCABC) remains
concerned over the health, safety and welfare of the public and
firefighters who unsuspectingly and increasingly come in contact with
the dangers associated with these operations.

There is evidence that these Medical Marijuana Grow Operations
represent the same threat to public safety as illegal ones. "There is
no intent implied to restrict access to medical marijuana," says
Stephen Gamble, FCABC President "but merely to regulate the
electrical, mechanical and structural modifications to a residential
or commercial building to ensure the safety of licensed growers, the
public and first responders."

Growing marijuana indoors - legally or not - tends to result in
health, fire and safety hazards related to electrical system
modifications, structural changes and excessive moisture. "License
holders are often changing the use of buildings without the necessary
permits or inspections and Health Canada has no procedures in place to
inform any local government about the issuance of a Marijuana Medical
Access Regulations license in their community", adds Gamble, "this
means that local governments have no knowledge about such operations
so as to take action to ensure these sites meet all necessary
building, fire and electrical safety regulations and, just as
importantly, are remediated after the license expires."