Pubdate: Tue, 11 Mar 2014
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Kelly Sinoski

MAYORS STUDY TAX ISSUES AROUND MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Metro Vancouver directors will investigate options for taxing 
commercial medical marijuana facilities, fearing they could lose tax 
dollars if operators set up shop in industrial areas and then seek 
farm-class status.

Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie Daykin warned Friday that this could happen 
under a preliminary BC Assessment policy that may allow medical 
marijuana operators to be taxed at the lower agricultural rate.

The BC Assessment policy states that medical marijuana production can 
qualify for farm classification as "medicinal plant culture," but 
only if other legislated requirements under that regulation are met, 
including a written application as well as evidence in support of the 
application and income and proof of sales, and verification that a 
producer is properly licensed in accordance with federal government 
regulations.

"There's the potential there for lost revenue," Daykin told Metro 
Vancouver's regional planning and agriculture committee. "The last 
thing any of us want is millions of industrial assessment devalued if 
it becomes assessed at the agricultural rate."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom