HEALTH CANADA REVISITS POT PLAN

The federal government is currently reviewing its options regarding
access to medical marijuana.

At least one of the items the government is examining is public
safety, which is welcome news to local officials.

Health Canada allows the medicinal use of marijuana for several
conditions, including severe pain or muscle spasms from multiple
sclerosis, spinal cord injury or disease, pain or nausea from cancer
or HIV and seizures from epilepsy.

Federally licensed medical marijuana grows have been a problem,
according to Surrey Chief Len Garis, who takes issue with the fact
many of them are electrically unsafe.

He notes the difference between a medical grow-op and an illegal
grow-op comes down to a licence. Medical grows are just as dangerous
to the community, Garis says.

"They're not regulated, they're not permitted, there's no safety
inspections - there's no difference (in the structure) between a
legal and illegal grow," Garis told The Leader. "That's the bottom line."

However, there has been recent movement among federal agencies to make changes.

Federal health minister Leona Aglukkaq wrote the president of the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities April 6 noting that all
authorized growers are informed they must abide by local bylaws
regarding fire and safety.

"Health Canada does not, however, verify compliance with these
requirements either before or after licensing," Aglukkaq wrote. She
also referred to a "reform exercise" being undertaken.

Health Canada's Christelle Legault responded by email to a Leader
request for the terms of reference for the reform exercise.

"Health Canada is currently considering longer-term measures to
revise the Marihuana Medical Access Program and its regulations,"
Legault wrote. "Our review is focusing on three key areas: public
safety and security, reasonable access to marihuana for medical
purposes, and examining overall costs to the Government."

With regard to when the process might be complete, Legault said
"Health Canada is currently in the process of reviewing its options."

Garis said he's pleased Health Canada seems to have acknowledged the
problem, but he'll reserve his reaction until he sees some results.

"I'm cautiously optimistic," Garis said Monday. "I look forward to
the changes. Certainly Health Canada knows what our concerns are, I
hope they'll be addressed and I look forward to it."

Health Canada has declined city requests for the locations of the
authorized growers for privacy reasons. Garis said he's also been
unable to find out how many there are.

About 2,800 production licences have been issued to medical marijuana
growers in Canada.

Garis said of the six Lower Mainland municipalities participating in
a new Electrical Fire and Safety Initiative, there have been 50
medical grow-ops found.

"It's become ridiculous, the numbers are exploding from what I'm
told, in terms of the number of licenses that are being issued,"
Garis said last month. "These things are flowing into our neighbourhoods."

He notes studies show the dwellings with grow-operations are 24 times
more likely to catch fire.