There are illegal marijuana grow-ops, but what happens when it’s legal cultivation?

The Federal government had plans to scrap its current system (or non-system, depending on who you ask) of allowing medical marijuana users to grow their own supply and replace it with a government-run system of approved growers and quality controlled product. A Vancouver judge threw that into doubt however by issuing an injunction on March 21 that delays the legislation that would have been implemented as of April 1.

There are currently 30,000 legal licences for homegrown pot – that’s a lot of people growing pot where they live, be it in a backyard or a container on the balcony.

What does it mean for homeowners – and potential home buyers?

Illegal marijuana grow-ops are one side of the story. We know they can mean a lot of trouble. Oftentimes, an entire house is used to grow marijuana, with growing lights and humidity maintained at levels that make it a haven for mold growth along with a host of other problems.

What happens if it’s a legal situation?

• If you’re in the market, outside of homeowner disclosure, there would be no way of knowing if the home had been used to grow marijuana. A real estate agent is only obliged to disclose what they’re made aware of.
• If you are a landlord, and especially if, like many people, you live in one part of your home and rent out the rest, what assurance do you have that tenants are growing safely and not damaging your property?

The Solution..?
It’s clear the legal aspects of marijuana cultivation (and if it’s legal in some states down south, will we be far behind?) still need work at the government level. There has to be a better solution than allowing for potential damage to property with no controls in place to minimize that aspect.

What you can do – knowledge is power
You may be able to find out if a home has been used as an illegal grow-op but there’s really no way of finding out about legal, licensed homegrown marijuana cultivation. Mold is perhaps only the start of a long list of problems that includes contamination by toxic chemicals and many other issues that affect indoor air quality and the structure of the house itself.

If you’re looking to buy a property and suspect that it may have been used as a marijuana grow-op, the experienced technicians at Mold Inspections can do indoor environmental assessments and testing for tell-tale signs like mold, yeast, bacteria and other toxic substances.

Know what you are getting into. For Grow-Op & Drug House Testing Services in Toronto, Contact Moldinspections.ca for a hassle-free quote today.

MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and Global news, official supplier to HGTV’s Income Properties with Scott McGillivray and Leave It To Bryan and recommended by local contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111(416) 575-6111.