The Smell of Cannabas

Steve Ferguson received a call from and friend about the smell of Cannabis in his neighbourhood in the Township of Langley Agriculture Reserve (ALR). The ALR is designated farmland meaning that cannot easily be bought by developers and turn into condominiums or townhouse for the general public to take up residence. Which makes this important land to be used by farmers to grow needed food for us to eat or plants to be turned into medicine or vitamins and is reserved under the Agriculture Land Commission Act (ALC). Under this same Act, it is possible to grow cannabis. Their regulations to be followed so the air remains clean and easy to breathe for surrounding neighbours. The question is about one cannabis grow-op in Aldergrove where the smell of cannabis is thick in the air and the grower attempting to mask the smell with high power fans and air freshener. The smell inspired the following email chain from a resident next to the grow-op.

—–Original Message—–
From: Steve Dreise
Sent: 2018-06-07 7:42 PM
To: cmc (HC/SC)
Subject: 349 264 St Aldergrove B. C.

I would like to file a formal odour complaint against BC Tweed and Canopy Growth Corp.   In refreference to the strong odour of Cannabis from their facility at 349 264 street Aldergrove BC

We have be suffering with this odour since mid March and as the weather warms it is getting worse. To compound matters the chemicals they are blowing into the air to mask the odour are as bad as the cannabis odour. BC Tweed and Canopy Growth Corp keep promising it will get better and they are working on it. Doing some research I found Health Canada’s regulations ACMPR and now have to ask why section 61 regulations are not being enforced. We feel like we are guinea pigs in a test to see what might work vs what the regulations say must be done.

Please advise what measures Health Canada is taking to ensure compliance is being met in a timely manner.

Awaiting your reply

Steve Dreise

Dear Mr. Dreise,

 

Thank you for your message.

 

The Office of Medical Cannabis (OMC) is responsible for developing and implementing legislation, regulations, policies and operational programs that support the control of cannabis for medical purposes. The Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) outline the regulatory guidelines for licensed producers and the products that are sold to clients.

 

The OMC manages many complaints within its jurisdiction; these complaints are prioritised according to the risk of diversion to the illicit market or the risk to health that the product may impose on Canadians. Incidents considered a higher risk will be dealt with first. This includes any issues about product quality and/or licensed producer activities as it relates to the ACMPR. These complaints are evaluated and may be sent for compliance verification by our inspection teams within the regions, where required.

 

Please be assured that we have received your complaints and have opened a file in regards to this Licensed Producer. Appropriate action will be taken to correct any potential non-compliance under the ACMPR.

 

Actions taken will be consistent with the Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch’s compliance and enforcement policies and procedures. The compliance and enforcement policy can be found on our website at:http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/branch-dirgen/hecs-dgsesc/_compli-conform/index-eng.php.

 

Further information on inspection activities conducted by Health Canada can be found within the Inspection Data Summary publication. Information will be posted as it becomes available on our website. We invite you to visit this link for the information: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/marihuana/compliance-conformite/2015-Q1-4-eng.php.

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Thank you,

 

Office of Medical Cannabis

Health Canada

Thank you for your reply. I would like to know when action will be taken against Canopy Growth Corp and BC Tweed they are making no effort to comply with

Section 61

Of the ACMPR

Instead they are trying to mask the odour with

Chemicals and fans. As a Nieghbourhood we have met with Canopy Growth Corp and B.C. Tweed and were told they have an exemption letter from section 61 of the ACMPR if so why and if they do not have an exemption WHEN can we expect them to be forced to comply with the ACMPR?

As it stands now we are forced to live with the smell of Cannibas and the smell of the chemicals they are trying to mask the smell with we also have the noise from the Air Canons day and night plus the noise from the generators they are using. I ask you why are we being subject to this non compliance and when can we expect them to be brought into compliance.

Steve Dreise

 

Steve Ferguson went to see for himself and talk to his friend about what is going on. Steve and a neighbour spoke out on camera.

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