Pubdate: Tue, 19 Feb 2013
Source: Peterborough This Week (CN ON)
Copyright: Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing
Contact: http://www.mykawartha.com/generalform
Website: http://www.mykawartha.com/community/peterborough
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1794
Author: Sarah Frank

IS AN OLD PRISON THE PERFECT PLACE TO GROW POT?

Deputy Mayor Investigates Possibility of Housing Medical Marijuana 
Growing Operation in Millbrook to Create Jobs and Bring in More 
Revenue for the Township

(PETERBOROUGH) - Cavan Monaghan's Economic Development Advisory 
Committee is exploring the possibility of growing medical marijuana 
in an old prison building.

Conversations surrounding the idea of housing a marijuana-growing 
operation at the former Millbrook Correctional Centre are still in 
preliminary stages, says Scott McFadden, deputy mayor for Cavan 
Monaghan, adding the venture could create jobs and provide more 
revenue for the Township.

Township council recently directed staff to work with the Greater 
Peterborough Area Economic Development Corporation to provide 
comments and get clarification on Health Canada's newly-updated 
regulations for medical marijuana growing operations. Mr. McFadden is 
investigating and researching the opportunity independently, he says.

The security features of the building, which sits on a large parcel 
of land in the west end of Millbrook, could work in favour of housing 
a grow-op, says Mr. McFadden, adding Health Canada reports indicate 
the crop is often subject to vandalism and theft. The complex, which 
is comprised of ten buildings, is surrounded by a 23-foot wall.

"It's one thing that comes naturally with the building," he says.

The deputy mayor is also looking into the potential to house a 
biodigester on-site, if council chooses to pursue the possibility of 
a grow-op further.

A biodigester, which takes in green waste, could produce electricity 
to be sold back to the grid, as well as heat, fertilizer and carbon 
dioxide, which are all needed for an indoor greenhouse environment.

"It's almost like a match made in heaven," he says, adding it could 
also create opportunities for a green waste program within the township.

 From a council perspective, Mr. McFadden says ideas require further 
investigation.

"The sky is the limit here," he says.

The prison first opened in 1957 as the first maximum-security 
facility in Ontario for male offenders. The Province shut it down in 
2003 and inmates were transferred to a facility in Lindsay.

The issue will likely go back to an Economic Advisory Committee 
meeting on Feb. 28. for discussion.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom