Pubdate: Fri, 07 Feb 2014
Source: Cranbrook Daily Townsman (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Black Press
Contact:  http://www.dailytownsman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/723
Author: Arne Petryshen

BYLAW SETS STAGE FOR MEDICAL GROW-OPS

At Monday's regular meeting, Cranbrook City Council adopted a bylaw
that will enable medical marijuana grow operations (MMGOs) to operate
within industrial zones, in anticipation of new federal regulations
concerning licensing of MMGOS.

"This zoning amendment will prepare Cranbrook with zoning and land use
recommendations in advance of the federal legislative changes for
MMGOs, taking effect on March 31 of this year," Acting Mayor Sharon
Cross explained.

The bylaw was given first and second reading on January
20.

The amendment was referred to the Advisory Planning Commission and the
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for approval and a
public hearing was held on Monday. No members of the public spoke to
it.

The report indicated that there had been one general inquiry about the
potential zoning changes. On January 29, the Ministry approved the
proposed zoning amendment. The advisory commission also met and
approved the plan.

Council members didn't speak to the bylaw at the meeting. Mayor Wayne
Stetski and Coun. Denise Pallesen were absent.

The federal government is introducing the new legislation as a result
of Health Canada recommendations.

The new decentralized, commercial-scale production by private
entrepreneurs comes as a major shift from the current policy, from
1999, which authorizes people with prescriptions for marijuana to grow
up to 50 plants in their homes to meet medical needs. The federal
government designated some of the growers to grow for up to four
people, or up to 200 plants.

According to a newsletter in the agenda package, the number of people
licensed to possess marijuana grew from 477 in 2002 to nearly 22,000
in 2012. Health Canada projected it would grow to 50,000 by 2014.
According to the report, the current approach has lead to degraded
residences which were not designed to be used as greenhouses.

The new approach transfers much more of the decision making over to
the municipal government, whereas before the municipality would be in
the dark as to where the medical marijuana grow-ops are currently located.
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MAP posted-by: Matt