Pubdate: Sat, 30 Aug 2014
Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Nanaimo Daily News
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608
Author: Spencer Anderson
Page: A4

POT PROTEST PUSHED TO SENIOR GOVERNMENTS

The Regional District of Nanaimo has put out a response to 
residential opposition to a licence application for a new medical 
marijuana facility in the Nanoose area.

However, the regional government says its hands are effectively tied 
with regards to the project and is asking residents to address their 
questions and complaints to senior levels of government. A group of 
residents living close to the proposed facility plan on meeting 
Tuesday to prepare their next steps.

Vancouver-based medical marijuana producer Wildflower Marijuana Inc. 
has two applications for licences in the works with Health Canada, 
the federal agency that regulates medical marijuana production. One 
of the applications is for the facility in Nanoose, while another is 
for an operation in Yellow Point.

Health Canada does not publicize details of an application, including 
the location of a proposed facility. The RDN says it has not received 
any development applications for the project, and is therefore unable 
to disclose a location.

The RDN also notes the application is to build the facility on ALR 
land. Since both the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agricultural 
Land Commission classifies the production of medical marijuana as 
farm use on ALR land, the RDN cannot stop the project on that basis, 
the RDN said in a public notice.

"Residents are extremely concerned about this licence application and 
as an elected official and a member of this community I sympathize 
and I understand those concerns," said RDN chairman Joe Stanhope in a 
statement. "I encourage anyone with questions or concerns about this 
licence application to contact Health Canada and let them know."

Although the location of the proposed facility in Nanoose has not 
publicly been released, resident Lehann Wallace claims she and other 
neighbours have discovered that the site is located directly adjacent 
to their rural subdivision. She and other residents have a variety of 
environmental and security concerns surrounding the facility. She 
blasted Health Canada for a lack of consultation for the application.

"There's no community consultation process, there's no site-selection 
criteria," she said.

Neither Health Canada nor Wildflower Marijuana Inc. returned Daily 
News calls before deadline Friday.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom