Pubdate: Sat, 15 Feb 2014
Source: Haida Gwaii Observer (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Observer Publishing Co. Ltd
Contact:  http://www.haidagwaiiobserver.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2681

REGIONAL DISTRICT THINKING POT

The regional district is grappling with upcoming changes to the
medical marijuana system, which will allow licenced producers to grow,
dry and sell the substance to registered clients within the next
couple of months.

The new Health Canada rules take effect April 1, and the regional
district has already received one inquiry about whether the zoning on
Graham Island would allow a marijuana facility, administrator Joan
Merrick says.

"This is an issue for all municipalities across BC," Ms Merrick said.
"We need to make sure if one is developed, it's developed in an area
that is not going to disturb neighbours."

Regional directors read a report on the issue from planning consultant
Judy Skogstad at their January meeting. Ms Skogstad explained that the
regional district's zoning on rural Graham Island allows "agricultural
use" in the A-1, R-1, R-2 and RS-1 zones, and that growing marijuana
plants indoors would meet the definition of agriculture. Drying and
processing would also be allowed, as long as the marijuana was grown
on site and not imported from somehwere else. Similar rules are in
place for Moresby Island.

Ms Skogstad suggested the regional district may want to review its
zoning in light of the new marijuana rules. Her report lists options
like requiring greater setbacks and larger lot sizes for marijuana
facilities, excluding marijuana production from certain zones, or
allowing marijuana activities in industrial zones.

Directors have not made any decisions yet and will be reviewing more
information on the issue, Ms Merrick said.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D