Pubdate: Tue, 25 Mar 2014
Source: Daily Courier, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/5NyOACet
Website: http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/531
Author: Jon Manchester

NOT YOUR TYPICAL FARMING

Now that Kelowna has reversed its position on where to allow the
growing of medical marijuana, don't expect to see lush fields of green
popping up all around the city.

A more likely scenario will see productive farmland covered over with
concrete bunkers and lined with razor-wire fences.

Council agreed to allow the production of medicinal weed on
agricultural land on a case-by-case basis. This reversed its earlier
decision to restrict medical grow-ops to industrial properties, as
West Kelowna has decided.

Across the province, bylaws controlling where the product can be grown
are a patchwork of varying rules.

But even if it can now be grown on properties within the Agricultural
Land Reserve, potential growers will still have to pass an approval
process that would consider its location and proximity to residential
areas.

In Kelowna, that could cause a lot of conflict.

These won't be pastoral fields of pretty green plants. Given the
underground value of the product - and that it is the major currency
in the organized crime drug trade - expect any operations to be
heavily fortified and brimming with security.

Anyone foolish to let their crop grow out in the open fields would
soon fall victim to theft.

For example, B.C. is already home to illicit grow-ops hidden out in
the bush, which are typically booby trapped or patrolled by armed
thugs. In one instance, a grower fed wild bears to keep them around
his plantation and scare off hikers who might have stumbled upon it.

While the medical marijuana industry has good intentions, growing dope
is not like tending an apple orchard.

- - Managing Editor Jon Manchester
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MAP posted-by: Matt