cannabisnews.com: Pot Place Irks Council Pot Place Irks Council Posted by CN Staff on October 25, 2002 at 23:02:11 PT By Theresa McManus, Record Reporter Source: Royal City Record The City of New Westminster isn't high on the federal government's decision to grant a licence for a medical marijuana operation in Queensborough. New Westminster police and city hall recently learned that the residents of a rental property in Queensborough had obtained the necessary permits pursuant to the Marijuana Medical Access Regulation to cultivate marijuana for medical purposes. The operation has raised concerns among area residents and city hall abut neighbourhood safety, health and safety of the residence and restrictions on marijuana producers. "What were they smoking when they came up with this idea?" quipped Coun. Jerry Dobrovolny about the federal government's decision to grant a licence without seeking city input. According to a staff report, staff are pursuing an inspection of the property to determine if it complies with city bylaws and to determine if there are any fire or safety hazards within the property. The property owner does not object to the inspection, but the occupants have requested written notice before they will permit an inspection. On Monday night, city council approved three recommendations related to medical marijuana: * To write to the local member of Parliament, the official opposition, and the federal health minister to inform them of the city's concerns regarding the Marijuana Medical Access Regulation. * To have staff pursue an inspection of the local rental property to determine if the Marijuana Factory complies with the city's bylaws and regulations and deems that it is safe. * To direct the city solicitor to obtain the necessary court order if the occupants or owner of the property fail to voluntarily permit staff to conduct an inspection. "I was absolutely flabbergasted the federal government would take this kind of action without any local impact at all," said Dobrovolny, noting the city's concerns have nothing to do with the legalization of marijuana. "This is simply about safety of neighbourhoods." Dobrovolny said he doesn't believe it's appropriate for an operation growing up to 300 plants to be located in a residential neighbourhood or for an operation to grow that many plants without being inspected by the city to ensure it meets safety requirements. According to Dobrovolny, the federal government has said that federal inspectors will ensure the safety of medical marijuana operations - but no inspectors are located in Western Canada. The Queensborough Residents' Association is demanding that city hall prohibit all marijuana grow operations in Queensborough, whether legal or not. Following concerns raised by several residents, the QRA passed a motion stating that Queensborough residents do not want grow operations in the neighbourhood because they contravene local community safety and health standards and will attract undesirable criminal elements into their peaceful community. "We will do everything we can without our power legally to deal with the issue. We will do it in a timely manner," said Mayor Helen Sparkes. "We are taking this matter extremely seriously and doing all we can." Related ArticleWorry About The Illegal Ones OpinionWe think that New Westminster city council doth protest a little too much about the medical marijuana factory which is now situated in the Royal City. It's understandable that the city got its nose out of joint because of the high-handed (excuse the pun) manner in which the federal government foisted the pot place on the city. After all, it seems only common sense to at least inform the city that it is to be home for one of the first medical marijuana factories in Canada. And, rightly so, the city has concerns with breaking substance barriers on its turf. But, that said, the placement of the factory really shouldn't raise that much of a stink. The amounts of pot that will be produced probably don't amount to much more than the average grow-op in Queensborough - and this grow-op will be much safer - and legal. Concerns of fire hazards and the usual things that go with grow-ops really shouldn't apply with this one. It would be foolhardy for the operators to take a risk with safety and security. This pot factory will be under more scrutiny than many businesses in the city. The federal government has bought the argument and rightly so that pot can be of great medicinal use for many people suffering from different illnesses. While we expect a little huffing and puffing about the decision, frankly, energies could be better spent on other issues. Source: Royal City Record (CN BC)Author: Theresa McManus, Record Reporter Published: Thursday, October 24, 2002 Copyright: 2002 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.Contact: editorial royalcityrecord.comWebsite: http://www.royalcityrecord.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmNew West Wants Look in Grow-Ophttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14564.shtmlResidents Upset by Pot Factory http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14530.shtmlAnswers Sought On Legal Grow-Ophttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14406.shtmlMarijuana Factory to Sue Paper http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14377.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by Rainbow on October 26, 2002 at 10:53:56 PT Another victum of the WoSD http://www.activedayton.com/ddn/local/daily/1020helriggle.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on October 26, 2002 at 05:18:30 PT Ya Ba Never heard of it, but the Post claims it's the new club drug from Thailand: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20932-2002Oct26.htmlAnd my LTE re Ya Ba and the Post's article thereupon:Sirs, If Ecstasy were legally available in stores, would the dealers in Ya Ba be able to sell it in place of Ecstasy? Would people consume it unwittingly, thinking it was Ecstasy? Would people die from this mistake, as they can now? Prohibition never makes it safer to consume a drug, yet people still consume them. Perhaps we should consider making their experiences as safe as possible, rather than continuing to try to stop drug-taking altogether. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by DdC on October 26, 2002 at 00:55:29 PT Irkles ¶8) The City of New Westminster isn't high on the federal government's decision to grant a licence for a medical marijuana operation in Queensborough. http://www.cannabinoid.com/wwwboard/politics/binaries/27/27667.gifhttp://www.cannabinoid.com/boards/politics/media/34/34417.gif That Awkward Stage... [ Post Comment ] Post Comment