Landlords concerned about cannabis rules

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This article was published 23/01/2018 (2975 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The leadership behind Brandon’s largest property rental company is concerned about the impacts this summer’s legalization of recreational cannabis might have on their clients.

Managing 1,250 rental units, Vionell Holdings CEO Jason Roblin said that his concerns boil down to both the presence of smoke and the potential that people would begin growing plants in their units.

“It’s definitely on the radar,” he said, adding that cannabis has been a hot topic of conversation in the industry of late.

Professional Property Managers’ Association of Manitoba representative Avrom Charach said that when it comes to rental units, he wants to see the provincial government treat cannabis like it does tobacco.

Provincially, the Non-Smokers Health Protection and Vapour Products Act would apply, allowing renters to establish “non-smoking” units for cannabis, as they can currently do with tobacco, with medicinal users exempt.

With all of Vionell Holdings’ units non-smoking, Roblin said that he echoes this sentiment, albeit with a lingering concern about people smoking next to exterior air intakes.

Roblin has similar concerns as it relates to their 1,300 condominium units, but it will be up to individual condominium boards to decide how they deal with cannabis.

He said that he expects there will be a bit of an adjustment period as people get accustomed to the smells lingering around their rental properties, but that it would be the same everywhere.

Charach said that the story of Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ross Rebagliati comes to mind on this front. The athlete was temporarily disqualified from an official placement as a result of cannabis being in his system following his 1998 gold medal win, which he said that he had ingested second-hand.

As such, Charach said that its pungent smell isn’t the only thing that is of concern as it relates to second-hand cannabis.

While this piece of smoke-related concern is directed at the provincial government, Charach said that the issue of grow-ops is one directed at the federal government.

Although the provincial government is disallowing plants for recreational use, medicinal plants remain fair game, and medicinal users are under no obligation to inform their landlord if they are growing plants, under current regulations.

Whether it’s ensuring that small-scale grow-ops have been installed correctly or charging extra for electricity if it is included in rent, Charach said that it’s a relevant thing for landlords to know.

Roblin said that tenants growing plants in their units is his “biggest fear” when it comes to this summer’s legalization.

It’s not only medicinal plants that he’s worried about, but also recreational plants.

Although recreational plants will remain illegal, he said that with cannabis finding greater acceptance through legalization, people might be more inclined to take the risk and grow their own plants.

“We’ve never found a grow-op, but this could be a tipping point,” he said.

Local cannabis advocate Rick Macl, who owns and operates the local Growers n’ Smokers head shop, said that he hopes governments don’t over-regulate where one can consume cannabis.

His fear, he said, is that “they’re going to sell you a bunch of pot and then you can’t smoke anywhere.”

Mayor Rick Chrest said that the city’s elected officials have yet to investigate bylaws related to where people will be allowed to smoke cannabis.

They’re waiting on the provincial government to announce whatever their plans might be, and where municipalities might have a say.

As it stands, he said that he anticipates the province drafting a mix between existing tobacco and alcohol regulations.

“It’s a bit of a waiting game,” he said, adding that council has been given notice that they might have to make cannabis-related decisions quickly, depending on how long it takes for the province to finalize their plans.

On the grow-op front, Macl supported Roblin’s concern that people would grow cannabis regardless of its legality, saying that sales for hydroponic equipment have not slowed down in the weeks following the provincial government’s announcement that home grows would not be allowed for recreational users.

The proper equipment has become more affordable in recent years, and Macl said that it’s easier than ever to cut down on fire hazards and the risk of moisture-related damages.

Even so, Macl is advocating for the provincial government to issue grow permits, which would require annual inspections to ensure they’re operating safely.

» tclarke@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB