The exploitation of loopholes in the federal cannabis licensing legislation is a continuing issue in Quinte West.
At Monday’s council meeting, the city approved a list of issues they’ll submit as part of Health Canada’s consultation period on the legislation.
One of the main issues addressed in the report is about designated licences, which allow people to grow cannabis on behalf of others. The report says people are amassing many designated licences and circumventing regulations and growing as much or more than commercially licensed places without complying with local by-laws.
Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison said that it’s a big issue.
“We’ve had to deal with illegal grow-ops in various locations. Nothing made clear to us. No permits were issued.”
Councillor Allan DeWitt said that it’s fine for people who are using the licences the way they were designed to be used but that people, especially in rural areas, are abusing the loopholes.
“Loopholes and gaps. I can look out my window right here and boy, is there a big loophole and gap. They’ve already been busted. Two actual loads of product taken out of there last year. Multiple licences all under one operation and they grow ten times what they’re licensed for. If this is our chance for a voice, I know what my voice is. I’m alright with cannabis being grown in the industrial park in a controlled and inspected setting, or people who have their four plants on their back porch for whatever purpose they have to have it for. But this rural setting growing, which is what we’re seeing on what was farms, I’m absolutely, 100% against it. I don’t know what we can do as a community, as a province, as a country, but we’re sitting here in a mess.”
The list of issues being submitted by the city to Health Canada highlights other things such as the quantity of cannabis that is allowed to be grown under personal licences, which the report says is “well in excess of the recommended average personal or medical consumption rates.”
The report outlines the lack of control or consultation the city has on the process which has led to many of the resulting issues.
Director of Planning and Development Services Brian Jardine told council that the issues outlined in the report for Quinte West are being similarly felt across the province.
Council voted and approved the list to be sent to Health Canada before the end of its cannabis production legislation consultation period.
To see the full staff report including the list being submitted, click here.
