CITY NEEDS TO CLAMP DOWN ON LEGAL POT: NEIGHBOUR

Langer Crescent resident Darren Adams is upset the city hasn't taken
stronger action to regulate medical marijuana production.

City council discussed, and rejected, options to regulate medical
marijuana production within city limits on Monday.

The federal government licenses and regulates medicinal marijuana use
and production through Health Canada. However, Health Canada does not
ensure medicinal marijuana producers comply with local fire
regulations, bylaws or provincial law.

Adams said he complained to the city after his neighbour set up a
medicinal marijuana growing operation in a garage last summer.

"The odours emitted from the grow operation are quite horrendous,"
Adams said. "We have to leave our own backyard at times, because the
odour is so noxious. There is no regulations, as far as containing
those odours."

Even more concerning than the odour is the possibility of attracting
"grow rippers" --criminals who rob marijuana grow operations, he said.

"I share a driveway with this particular property. If they're looking
for the residence associated with that grow op -- that's what I'm
concerned about," Adams said. "There has been a couple cases where
people have pulled up in front of his grow op and banged on my door,
thinking its part of my property."

People with a marijuana possession card from Health Canada can
purchase marijuana from the federal government, he said.

"It doesn't make any sense to have grow ops operated by individuals."

At Monday's council meeting, city council was presented with a number
of options to consider -- including restricting marijuana production
in residential areas or putting regulations on marijuana production
into the zoning bylaw. However, city bylaw manager Guy Gusdal
reported, Health Canada doesn't inform municipalities about marijuana
production licenses it issues making enforcement difficult. And such
bylaws would likely be challenged in court, he added.

Coun. Cameron Stolz moved that the city should investigate
"reasonable restrictions" on marijuana production through the city's
zoning bylaws.

"There is some concerns with safety issues," Stolz said.

However, Stolz was the only councillor to vote in favour of the
motion. Council voted to support the Federation of Canadian
Municipalities' call for stronger federal oversight of medical
marijuana production.

"I'm just wondering if this isn't overkill," coun. Brian Skakun said.
"I'm concerned that we're [considering] putting a lot of work and
effort into something that isn't a big issue in the community."

The city is only aware of one personal medical marijuana grower
within city limits, he added. As of 2008, Health Canada had issued a
total of 2,822 licenses throughout the country for personal marijuana
production.

Mayor Dan Rogers said it is not the city's role to get involved in
conflicts between neighbours.

"I hear people on the street saying, 'get government out of my life.'
I'm a bit concerned about the... perception of creating a nanny
state," Rogers said.

Adams' neighbour declined to be interviewed.

However, Chronic Pain Association of Canada support group facilitator
Theresa Kile said council made the right decision on Monday. Kile
said Health Canada has a rigorous screening process for patients
applying to the medical marijuana program.

"This is an extreme form of medication when ordinary pharmaceuticals,
and usually naturopathic treatment, have failed," Kile said. "This is
usually the very last thing people have."

Patients must be referred to the program by a medical specialist,
then be screened for psychological suitability for the program, she
said. In addition, license holders are subject to federal inspection
at any time without warning and are monitored for the duration of
their participation.

The maximum amount of marijuana anybody can grow with a personal
production license is 15 plants every four months, she added.

"People who have these licenses aren't using them to get high, it's
their medicine," Kile said. "That's a mean-hearted neighbour who
would say, 'don't grow your medicine.'"

With the B.C. Cancer Agency Centre for the North locating in Prince
George, she said, there will be more patients in the city needing
medical marijuana to control their pain.

Kile has a personal production license, but is unable to grow
marijuana at her landlord's request. And purchasing marijuana from
the federal government at $5 per gram is impractical for someone
living on disability benefits.

Because medical marijuana is not registered as a medication, she can
not claim it as a medical expense. Kile said she simply cannot afford
to use medical marijuana.

"For me, it would cost over $2,000 a month," she said. "Who can afford that?"