Social housing tenants in Haldimand and Norfolk who were planning to grow their own marijuana next year will have to find a place to do it off site.

The Haldimand-Norfolk Housing Corporation decided last week that tenants will not be allowed to grow marijuana in units under the corporation’s control.

This week, HNHC managers explained it has nothing to do with smoking marijuana for recreational purposes. Rather, the policy is in response to marijuana’s capacity to damage buildings while under cultivation.

“Our responsibility to the taxpayer is to protect the asset,” Deborah Felice, HNHC’s chief executive officer, said this week.

“The key to that is having a good working relationship with our tenants.”

In 2014, the Trudeau Liberals campaigned on a promise to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes. The new policy allows individuals to grow a maximum of four plants for personal use.

The problem for landlords is that marijuana plants are large and process a lot of water. Combined with the heat from grow lights, interior grow environments tend to be warm and moist.

This is conducive to the production of mould, which damages wallboard, carpets, furniture and most anything with an absorbent surface. As well, some varieties of mould are bad for human health.

The housing corporation also pays for the utilities of some tenants. The board of directors is concerned that grow lights operating around the clock will add greatly to the corporation’s basic costs.

Felice and Jeff Miller, of Port Dover, president of the housing corporation, presented the board’s 2017 annual report to Norfolk council on Tuesday.

During their presentation, the pair spoke of a preliminary survey last fall testing tenant attitudes toward smoking and the possibility of the housing corporation going smoke-free.

Surveys were sent to 391 households, of which 149 were returned. A majority of respondents expressed support for smoke-free buildings.

“It is recommended that this survey be conducted a second time in the future to compare data and – at that time – the option of commencing a smoke-free housing program,” the 2017 report says. “Many residents expressed concern related to cannabis use and how it would impact aspects of their reasonable enjoyment.

“Residents were informed that any future considerations would not result in tenants being evicted for being smokers, would not force anyone to quit smoking, and would not prevent smokers from renting accommodations.”

Come what may, marijuana is being smoked in public housing units and will continue to be smoked there regardless of policy changes.

Tenants with a prescription for medical marijuana have successfully argued that its use in most environments is a human right in Canada which can only be circumscribed in specific instances.

“We know that,” Miller said following his presentation to Norfolk council.

Marijuana for recreational purposes will be on sale in Ontario online Oct. 17. The storefront sale of recreational marijuana becomes legal April 1 next year.

The Haldimand Norfolk Housing Corporation has 544 apartment and townhouse units under management.

A total of 391 are wholly owned by Norfolk and Haldimand counties. Third parties have contracted HNHC to manage another 153 units. The total value of housing assets under management is $55 million.

MSonnenberg@postmedia.com

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