MEADOWS' POT BAN ONE STEP CLOSER

Pitt Meadows city council moved one step closer to banning some
medical marijuana grow-ops Tuesday evening.

Councillors were debating a bylaw amendment that would prohibit
growing the plants in residential and agricultural zones. The
amendment was brought up because councillors were concerned about
grow-ops fire, violence and theft dangers.

The proposed change would not ban grow-ops outright, Mayor Don MacLean
said.

"We have no problem with people growing in a residential zone for
their own use," he said. "But growing the plants for others would not
be allowed in homes or on farms -- only in industrial zones."

Marijuana can be used to treat pain, nausea and other symptoms for
such illnesses as AIDS, cancer and multiple sclerosis. Health Canada
allows sick individuals to apply to either produce their own medical
pot or designate someone else to grow it for them. The amendment
passed third reading Tuesday, and now goes to a final vote in September.