Pubdate: Tue, 11 Mar 2014
Source: Sentinel Review (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Woodstock Sentinel Review
Contact: http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/letters
Website: http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2385
Author: Codi Wilson

STIRRING THE POT IN BLANDFORD-BLENHEIM

Application for Medical Marijuana Grow-Op

Blandford- Blenheim may soon have its first ever medical marijuana 
grow-op if the application is approved by Health Canada.

Blandford- Blenheim Mayor Marion Wearn said council received notice 
earlier this year that an application had been made for a medical 
marijuana grow operation on a farm property on County Road 29.

"We really have no input except that, when it comes to council, if 
the application is approved, then we would be issuing building 
permits and doing inspections," Wearn said.

"Certainly there are a number of people that require this medication 
and, whether you personally agree with it or not, I don't think we 
have any say on that."

Wearn said, to her knowledge, there have not been any other medical 
grow-ops in the township in the past.

"The proposal for the building is 8,000 square feet ( 743 square 
metres), but I don't know what that equates to as far as the number 
of plants or costs or anything like that," she said.

"The only problem that we have at this point is that we don't have 
anything in our zoning bylaw that defines this type of business. 
We'll need a definition and we certainly will be looking at where 
these businesses would be best placed in the township."

Wearn said the county's planning staff is helping with the zoning 
issue in the coming months.

"That won't apply to this application, but once it is implemented 
into our zoning bylaw, from then on, that certainly will apply to any 
new applicants," she said.

Wearn said she was not given a specific timeline for the process but 
said it could be six months or more before the applicant hears back 
from Health Canada.

"If they get approval, then of course they have to apply for a 
building permit and go through that whole process as well. It could 
be a year a year or more before we actually even see anything on the 
ground," she said.

Wearn said, from what council understands, there are very strict 
security regulations associated with these types of businesses. 
"There are a number of processes that they have to go through to 
weigh and track each plant.

They have to dispose of the plants properly and that sort of thing," 
she said. "At one time, there were licences given out for people to 
grow their own medical marijuana, but now they are trying to change 
that over into this type of business where it will be grown and 
regulated and what not by these applicants."

Wearn said in addition to township council, local emergency service 
providers were also notified of the application.

"Once it goes into our zoning bylaw, it is like any business. We 
don't tell people what business they have to have as long as they 
have the permits and it is a legal use then it is allowed."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom