CORPIQ relieved by Supreme Court decision on cannabis cultivation

MONTREAL, April 14, 2023 – The Corporation des propriétaires immobiliers du Québec (CORPIQ) has learned of the Supreme Court’s decision in response to Janick Murray-Hall’s motion to invalidate Quebec’s ban on growing cannabis at home. The Supreme Court ruled that Quebec’s more restrictive law on cannabis cultivation can very well coexist with the more permissive federal law. Quebec’s 300,000 rental landlords have unfortunately been waiting a long time for such a ruling, and CORPIQ believes that the decision will now make it easier for them to enforce the law.

CORPIQ raised concerns for six years

Since 2017, CORPIQ has been lobbying governments to explicitly recognize the right of the provinces to prohibit cannabis cultivation, especially in homes that do not belong to the occupants. Today’s ruling will make it easier for the police to actually enforce Quebec’s law. Growing plants—particularly cannabis, which requires high humidity—directly damages homes. It inevitably leads to mould and structural deterioration, resulting in high repair costs for rental landlords. Tenants’ peace of mind and everyone’s right to a healthy environment are just as important as well. “This decision is a victory for all Quebec rental landlords, who will now be able to more easily enforce Quebec’s cannabis law,” said Marc-André Plante, Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations at CORPIQ. “Growing cannabis at home has led to fire hazards, the risk of illegal cannabis trafficking and security risks around some rental properties. We hope that the authorities will now strictly enforce the law, and CORPIQ will continue to lobby for this. We applaud the Quebec government for defending its right to legislate on this issue.”

To receive a copy of CORPIQ’s findings and recommendations to the Cannabis Act Legislative Review Secretariat in November 2022, please contact maplante@corpiq.com.

 

About CORPIQ

CORPIQ is a non-profit organization that brings together 30,000 landlords and property managers who own nearly 600,000 rental units and condos. It is the largest association to offer services to landlords and to defend their interests for over 40 years. CORPIQ serves all regions from four offices with a total of 60 employees. Quebec landlords, seven out of ten of whom own a duplex or triplex, provide housing to 1.6 million renter households.