EDMONTON- A northeast Edmonton homeowner says she’s concerned about a legal marijuana grow operation running out of a home in her neighbourhood, and wants it to be shut down.
The woman, who has asked to remain anonymous, says she and her neighbours noticed a strange smell in the area about one year ago.
“We left it for quite some time and then the smell became almost a daily occurrence. We were smelling it in our home,” she said. “Neighbours around there get it to their front door, they get it in their bedroom windows. I’ve had it in all areas of my home.”
The woman says there were several vehicles coming and going from the home and residents thought there was illegal activity going on, so a few weeks ago they phoned police. But after speaking with the homeowner, police said there was no criminal activity occurring, therefore it was not a police matter.
“The resident has a valid Health Canada permit to grow the medicinal marijuana and police did not find anything criminal,” said Chad Orydzuk, a spokesperson with the Edmonton Police Service.
The neighbour says the man then put a notice up in his front window.
“Several neighbours went and looked at the notice and, low and behold, it was a legal grow op. They have a licence to run it in that home,” said the neighbour.
Health Canada says patients who have been approved to take medicinal marijuana can grow it in their own homes. The current rules were put in place in 2001, when there were only about 500 people enrolled in the medicinal marijuana program in Canada.
“Over the past decade that has grown exponentially to 30,000 participants,” explained Sophie Galarneau, executive director of engagement, medicinal marijuana, Health Canada. “The program that we had in place was clearly not adapted to the demand.”
As a result, Health Canada is making changes, and those requiring medicinal marijuana will soon have to purchase it through a commercial grower or Health Canada.
“As of April 1, 2014, those licences to grow in private dwellings will be revoked and so it will not be permitted moving forward. Individuals that want to access medical marijuana will need to register with commercial licence producers,” Galarneau said.
On October 1, 2013, Health Canada will begin transitioning into the new system and will not be issuing any new production licences to individuals in private dwellings.
While the rules will be changing, the concerned neighbour says April 1 isn’t soon enough. She’s worried about the safety of her neighbourhood and wants the grow op gone.
“It’s hard to sleep at night now, knowing this is going on… and you don’t know whether or not you’re safe.
“This is not the place for a grow op- legal or illegal,” she said. “It’s not something we want in our community.”
With files from Laurel Clark, Global News.
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