Pubdate: Tue, 26 Feb 2013
Source: Chilliwack Progress (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 The Chilliwack Progress
Contact: http://www.theprogress.com/contact_us/
Website: http://www.theprogress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/562
Author: Jennifer Feinberg

AGRICULTURAL LAND COULD SEE MEDICAL POT GROW-OPS: LEGAL OPINION

Chilliwack council has weighed in with an official response to the 
federal government on the subject of medical marijuana.

The 75-day comment period from Health Canada ends on Feb. 28, and 
proposed changes for the medical marijuana access regulations are 
expected by April 2013.

The shift in regulations will see an end to personal growing by 
licence-holders or proxy growers in favour of a system of commercial 
grow-operations run by licensed producers.

Council approved a recommendation to research the proposed changes to 
see if Chilliwack's building regulation bylaws and business licensing 
bylaws will require amendments, "to ensure that the proposed 
commercial medicinal grow operations are constructed and monitored in 
appropriately zoned areas; and further, that the safety and security 
of its citizens be considered its main focus and priority."

Chuck Stam said that he supported the recommendation but felt "this 
discussion was bigger than any one municipality," arguing it should 
also go to the Union of B.C. Municipalities, or LMLGA.

Council has received a legal opinion that medical grows would be 
permitted in the Agricultural Land Reserve, and that might "put 
pressure" on the ag community, Stam said.

The Chilliwack Agricultural Commission was another entity that should 
be consulted, the councillor suggested.

"I also want to hear from the agricultural community to see if they 
view it as an acceptable use of agricultural lands," he said after the meeting.

Coun. Jason Lum said that he would bring it up at the upcoming 
meeting of the Lower Mainland Local Government Association.

Mayor Sharon Gaetz questioned if agricultural land was the way to go, 
and said if medicinal marijuana was in fact a pharmaceutical product, 
it should be grown on industrial lands.

"That discussion needs to be had."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom