Pubdate: Thu, 24 Apr 2014
Source: Caledon Enterprise, The (CN ON)
Page: Page 10
Copyright: 2014 The Caledon Enterprise
Contact:  http://www.caledonenterprise.com/caledon-on/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4318
Author: Matthew Strader

MARIJUANA ON THE TABLE BUT VOTE WILL WAIT

Medical marijuana is on the table, but will wait for a decision in
Caledon.

Caledon's council debated the rezoning of lands to allow the
establishment of medical marijuana production facilities on Tuesday.

Town staff recommended the production facilities be allowed in lands
zoned for prestige industrial and service industrial.

But the growers wanted councillors to see that outside of stigmas and
a little fear, they are just farmers and want council to consider
zoning laws that would allow medical marijuana production facilities
on agricultural land.

"I am a farmer," said Howie Brocks, COO of Cannabis Care Canada. "I am
a farmer because my father was a farmer."

Brocks' father grew potatoes for General Foods for 50
years.

He said the process of growing marijuana is farming and akin to other
crops commercially produced, like tobacco. He also stressed it will be
a new avenue of revenue for farmers.

"At the end of the day our human consumable raw material is a
medicine," he said. "Please give farmers within your jurisdiction the
right to produce a crop that will help hundreds of thousand of
Canadians greatly increase the quality of their life."

Ward 1 Regional Councillor Richard Paterak said he and his area
colleague, Doug Beffort had already dealt with a marijuana production
facility in their ward that gave the appearance of growing organic
plants and vegetables as an orchard, and was located near residential.
Aspects of it upset his constituents and he was glad to see it gone.

But on April 1, new federal legislation came into effect that changed
everything, the producers said.

"Everything has changed," Brocks said about new federal legislation
calling on the operations to be professional and monitored. "There was
no responsibility before that, because people were putting operations
in townhouses, they were not professionals, they were not working off
engineered drawings to produce a quality product."

Brocks explained that previously, if police showed up at a growers'
door to inspect their operation, the owner could say I have my
license, go away. But not anymore. Inspections will be routine, and
audits of production records will keep producers professional, he said.

A representative for King's Harvest MMP Inc., an operation that owns
lands at the intersection of Mayfield Road and Centreville Creek Road,
asked the council to consider why they were denying farmers and
agricultural landowners the opportunity to profit off of an
agricultural venture.

"I want you to ask yourself why a bylaw is being proposed that seems
to preclude farmers from getting involved in what could be a lucrative
opportunity?" asked Craig Ross. "This is growing a crop. It's farming
from start to finish."

Ross said many of the stigmas are not just about the controlled
substance itself, but the operations. He explained that a medical
marijuana facility would not be a pharmaceutical operation. He said
under the food and drug act it was considered a herbal remedy or
supplement, and related its farming to Ginseng.

Agricultural land owners are naturally suited to farming, Ross said,
and there were no land use issues as there would be no more traffic,
electricity or water demands than an operable farm.

"Just google it," he said. "There are towns and municipalities that
are viewing this as an opportunity and viewing it expansively, there
is an enthusiasm to it."

Ross said Fort Erie permitted it under agriculture and added
industrial zoning. Again, he asked the council, why they were viewing
this restrictively.

"Why are you not providing farmers the opportunity?" he
said.

Ward 3 and 4 Regional Councillor Richard Whitehead wanted staff to
look at a blanket agricultural zoning, and how it would effect lands
that were zoned agricultural, but really not. He said many of the
large homes in his ward are on agricultural lands, and wondered if the
accepted use would mean small grow ops could pop up anywhere within
them?

Paterak wanted to know about the security requirements and the
imposition of that.

"Is this going to be lit up like a Christmas tree?"

Ward 5 Regional Councillor Patti Foley expressed concern about
separation distances. She said 150 m was not a far enough distance
from a school, stating if police had to respond to a break in, and
engaged in an armed standoff, it would be too close for her comfort.

Planning director Hall recommended that if council were seriously
considering the move, her staff should examine provincial plans
(Greenbelt, Niagara Escarpment, Oak Ridges Moraine) that can effect
zoning, and overlay much of Caledon.

Beffort saw the wealth of concerns and tabled a motion for a
referral.

According to Hall, her staff will need approximately two months to
come back to council with a new report.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D