PITT MEDICAL GROWOP BYLAW IN PLACE

People who grow medical marijuana for others better move out of Pitt
Meadows.

Council gave fourth reading Tuesday to a bylaw amendment that
prohibits growing the plant for medicinal use in residential and
agricultural zones.

The city is among the first in Canada to use a municipal bylaw to
thwart an activity that's sanctioned under federal law.

Growing medical marijuana for personal use will still be permitted in
the city, but growing for others as a home-based business will not be
allowed.

The bylaw are also ensures that medicinal marijuana grow-ops are
excluded as an agricultural use.

"It's a tool available if it's needed," said city director of
operations Kim Grout.

City staff know of only one medical marijuana grow operation within
its residential boundaries, but "there's speculation" that buildings
are being constructed in its agricultural zone for the same purpose.

Grout said the owners of the medical grow operation have about week to
shut down.

But the man, who set up the grow operation on a quiet cul-se-sac, has
already moved to Mission.

The man, who requested anonymity, said the house isn't being use to
grow for marijuana other's any more. Instead, a friend who has a
Designated-Person Production Licence from Health Canada - a permit
that allows you to grow legal pot - will be farming the plant for himself.

The bylaw still permits growing medical marijuana for personal
use.

"I got tired of fighting the city," he said.

Marijuana activists expect the bylaw will be challenged in
court.

"It is unconstitutional," said Dana Larsen, who operates a medical
marijuana dispensary in Vancouver and is the director of Tagg
Dispensary in Maple Ridge.

"It can't be allowed to stand."

Larsen said the bylaw demonstrate a failure by Health Canada to
establish proper regulations for medical marijuana.

"The bylaw is making victims out of people who are already ill and
terribly sick. They are being told they have to grow their own
medicine and punished by their own community. The city should be
calling upon Health Canada to reform their program."