HEMP, HEAD SHOPS UP FOR SCRUTINY

Head shops that sell pipes and rolling papers and garden suppliers who sell
hydroponic equipment may come under close scrutiny as Abbotsford develops
ways to squeeze out marijuana growers.

A group of 30 to 40 invited stakeholders are expected to meet by mid-April
to brainstorm strategies and to form a new anti-marijuana growing operation
task force, said Mayor Mary Reeves on Wednesday.

"City staff will prepare a report out of that brainstorming session, which
should have several recommendations. The task force will . . . carry out
those recommendations," she said. Reeves expects a public forum will be
planned, but said the final staff report should be out by the end of April.

Invited stakeholders include members from the Fraser Health Authority,
insurance companies, real estate agents, banks, fire, police, B.C. Hydro,
other municipalities and neighbourhood groups.

On Monday Coun. Mark Warawa said new strategies could include looking
closely at retailers that supply hydroponic gardening supplies to growing
operations and shops that sell pipes, rolling papers and other items to pot
smokers.

"It'll be really interesting to see what percentage of their business goes
to selling a product that is going to be used by grow-ops," he said.

While there are legitimate horticultural clients, there are retailers who
may be selling to marijuana producers, he said.

"I'm not talking about good retailers. I'm talking about retailers, if
their product is being sold for illegal operations, we need to get those
retailers on side, to do due diligence," said Warawa.

As for shops selling pipes and papers, Warawa said they were flaunting
Canadian laws. [The Criminal Code describes instruments for illicit drug
use as anything "designed primarily or intended . . . for consuming or to
facilitate the consumption of an illicit drug," and also "literature for
illicit drug use" that includes printed matter or videos depicting and
promoting illicit drug use].

Such moves are promoted by the Canadian Association of Police Boards, which
sent a letter to Abbotsford asking it to employ methods that discourage
growing operations.

Reeves said it was too early to say what strategies the city would use. Any
plans would first have to be reviewed by the city's development services
staff and by lawyers, she said.

Abbotsford already has a bylaw that requires property owners to pay for
policing and other costs incurred when a growing operation is found on
their premises. The Abbotsford police department has also been releasing
regular reports to the media on their raids on growing operations.

Meanwhile, as cities look at ways to curb marijuana production, this week
Health Canada said it will change its regulations to allow British Columbia
pharmacies to dispense medical weed to medical users in a pilot project.
Currently 78 medical users have permits to buy pot from Health Canada. The
pot is used to alleviate the negative effects of diseases such as multiple
sclerosis and the effects of drugs, such as those used in the treatment of
cancer and in pain control.

Warawa said his concern was to focus on illegal marijuana use and
production and to curb criminal activity.