BID TO CLOSE POT LOOPHOLES

OTTAWA - A growing number of Canadians permitted to grow pot for
health reasons are exploiting the special right to operate grow-ops,
says a Liberal MP who wants to tighten the rules.

Scarborough, Ont., MP Michelle Simson's Bill C-539 aims to "close the
loopholes" on medicinal marijuana production policy by requiring
criminal background checks and inspections of grow sites. It would
also require the pot producer to notify other occupants if it's
located inside a commercial or multi-tenant building.

"I don't want to see it eliminated, I just think right now it's too
loosey-goosey," she told QMI Agency.

Simson became aware of gaps that she believes have led to widespread
abuse of weed-growing licences after a complaint from one of her constituents.

In that case, the grow-op jeopardized a local business because there
was an acute smell of the marijuana that permeated from an upstairs tenant.

"You can actually smell it out on the street in some cases," she
said. "This isn't about someone growing five or six plants on their
windowsill. The loopholes are so big, that this is becoming a bigger
issue than we know, people taking advantage of it."

There could be safety risks or insurance implications in addition to
business risks for neighbours of the grow-ops, she said.

After speaking with local police and RCMP, Simson crafted the private
member's bill to amend Marijuana Medical Access Regulations. It aims
to stop "systemic" problems by ensuring all marijuana produced for
medical purposes - by the patient or their designated grower - is
used only for medical purposes, not "personal gain."

Simson said a 2009 RCMP review of 70 licence violations found 40
involved production and trafficking of pot exceeding terms of permit.
Another six cases involved a licensee with prior drug convictions or charges.