City considers ban on some home medical grow-ops

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This article was published 07/10/2021 (1522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE City of Winnipeg could soon ban the growth of some medical cannabis in residential areas and create penalties for violators.

The proposed rules would mark a great step forward, said one resident.

“I think that this is exactly what we had hoped for… It’ll be great to have (the growth) regulated and moved into manufacturing areas,” said Laurie Monk.

Until recently, Monk said she lived near a home in Garden City devoted to growing marijuana.

The proposal calls for council to impose new rules on those registered as a “designated” person to grow medical marijuana on someone else’s behalf, as permitted by Health Canada. Those who grow their own cannabis for personal medical use would not be affected.

Designated facilities can currently allow enough cannabis to be grown for up to four separate registrations at one location, which can permit hundreds of plants in a single home.

Monk, a member of the group Citizens Against Residential Cannabis Grow Ops, said such houses in her area threatened to overtax electrical panels and increase the risk of fires, while also potentially attracting crime at homes that no one actually lived in.

At times, intense odours hindered her quality of life.

“There were times when the odour was acrid, when it was absolutely heavy and pungent. I’m not against weed… but there are some limits,” said Monk.

Several residents took their complaints about medically licensed grow operations in their neighbourhoods to city hall earlier this year, pushing for city limits on the practice.

Under the proposed rules, the city would require the “designated” medical cannabis producers (not those growing for personal use) to obtain a valid business licence and operate indoors within manufacturing zones only. The operators would be required to meet set standards for air filtration and locate a minimum distance away from homes, schools, public parks and playgrounds.

The licensing requirement would allow the city to inspect the facilities and issue fines to violators, as well as suspend or revoke licences.

The city is studying how much of a buffer zone would be required between the buildings and other “sensitive” locations, as well as how high the fines should be.

Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) said she expects the changes would make a significant difference.

“It may need refinement but I think this is a tremendous first step,” said Lukes. “It’s not taking away people’s rights for personal use, it’s just monitoring designates (who grow for others).”

Since Health Canada registrations must be updated each year and require all growers to follow local rules, the councillor expects existing operations would not be exempt.

Lukes said she’s received complaints about at least five homes used to grow large amounts of marijuana in her ward, while the problem occurs throughout the city.

“All councillors have this issue,” she said.

Coun. Ross Eadie, who has long complained that excessive pot growth is creating major concerns in his ward, said he supports the proposed changes but fears they don’t go far enough. The Mynarski councillor said he’s concerned growing licences for personal medical use, which the city wouldn’t restrict, could still allow too many plants to be grown in some homes.

“I (support) what they’re doing on people producing for others but it’s not going to solve the (whole) problem,” said Eadie.

He said he’ll likely push the city to take additional steps, such as assessing the maximum number of plants that can be grown in one home without making it uninhabitable.

If the recommendations are approved, bylaw amendments to implement the changes will be ready for a council vote in about six months.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga