City closer to imposing new rules for medical weed grow-ops

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This article was published 05/04/2022 (1280 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The city appears set to impose new rules upon those designated to grow medical cannabis for others, including penalties for violators.

After many residents complained of a “wild west” scenario that led some homes to reportedly contain hundreds of pot plants each, the city will consider a new licensing plan with rules, inspections and fines.

The new regime would apply only to people authorized by Health Canada to grow marijuana to fill the medical prescriptions of others, not to those growing it for themselves.

Carmen Nedohin, who spent months working to get a medical grow-op out of her neighbourhood, said she’s not certain if the penalties are severe enough. Overall, though, she deems the proposal a “huge win.”

“It gives teeth to the city… and to the people who live in neighbourhoods to be able to say, ‘Look, there’s this horrific smell coming from next door, we believe it’s a grow op,’ and then they can go in and check,” said Nedohin.

Under the new rules, the growers would require a valid business licence, which the city could suspend or revoke, if health and safety concerns arise. The licences would cost $100 to grow one to five plants, $500 to grow six to 20, $1,500 for 21 to 50 plants and $5,000 for 51 plants or more.

Growers of six or more plants who break the rules, such as by failing to either properly dispose of excess cannabis, store cannabis in a secure area or deliver all marijuana to the registered patient, could face a $500 fine per offence. The same penalty could be applied to those who fail to grant quick access to the facilities for city inspections, don’t immediately provide permits to enforcement officers or otherwise don’t follow approved plans.

Licences could be immediately revoked if any information on an application is false or an inspection finds the grower has exceeded the licence limits.

A city official said inspections can be triggered by complaints or non-compliance, while the program would also allow better control of unlicensed cannabis growth.

“Any unlicensed operations could be shut down with assistance from the Winnipeg Police Service,” said Terry Winston, a licensing co-ordinator with bylaw enforcement, in an emailed statement.

Nedohin expects the new limits, especially when combined with proposed zoning changes that aim to restrict where medical cannabis can be grown, will lead some cannabis growers to move out of residential neighbourhoods. She said some homes that once housed hundreds of pot plants have already been sold while the city worked on the changes.

Nedohin said that trend bodes well for safety and quality of life in Winnipeg neighbourhoods, including her Sage Creek area. She said a home near hers devoted to growing cannabis is located right beside a school playground that’s used by hundreds of kids each day.

“I know they’re not going to be subjected to that stench anymore,” she said.

Council is set to separately consider new zoning rules that require all designated growing facilities to be located in manufacturing zones, at least 300 feet away from any homes, parks or schools. The property and development committee voted in favour of those rules Tuesday; they still require council’s approval.

Coun. Sherri Rollins, the head of council’s protection and community services committee, said she expects to support the new licensing plan.

“The monitoring aspects are really important. When marijuana comes to (its) cultivation period, it is stinky. It is impossible for neighbours to live… anywhere near it and not notice the smell,” Rollins said. “These are appropriate measures.”

The councillor said she will support the fines at their current level for now but believes the amount should be reviewed in the future, especially if violations are frequent.

The city expects to create 1.5 new staff positions to run the licensing program, which would be funded through the new licence fees.

Joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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