Pubdate: Mon, 14 Aug 2017 Source: Metro (Halifax, CN NS) Copyright: 2017 Metro Canada Contact: http://www.metronews.ca/Halifax Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4727 Author: Zane Woodford Page: 5 Referenced: http://mapinc.org/url/F52sbywV CITY LOOKS INTO POT PLANNING Staff suggest HRM consider how to handle legalization Halifax is starting to think about how legal marijuana will roll out in the municipality. In a staff report coming to regional council's meeting on Tuesday, staff recommend starting the process to consider amending land-use bylaws to determine the best places for marijuana-production facilities and dispensaries in the municipality ahead of next summer's promised legalization. The federal government introduced legislation to legalize marijuana this spring. The bill passed first and second reading, and was referred to committee for further debate. The government intends to bring the law into effect no later than July 2018. The bill puts much of the decision-making power around the sale of marijuana in the provinces' hands, and Nova Scotia has been tight-lipped about its plans. The province said it will wait till the government passes the law before determining how it will be sold in the province, but it has set up an interdepartmental working group looking into marijuana policy. Municipal staff have presented three options to regional council: follow the province's lead and wait for the bill to pass before considering changes; prepare policies around commercial marijuana production facilities; or prepare policies and regulations for both production and marijuana dispensaries. Staff recommends the third option. Currently, commercial marijuana production facilities for medical marijuana are legal in Halifax. While there are no licensed producers in the province, the municipality has already issued two permits for production facilities in industrial areas. What staff would like to review is exactly where they should be permitted. "While such production facilities are appropriate in many industrial zones, they may not be appropriate in mixed use zones that also permit residential uses," HRM principal planner Ben Sivak writes in the report. And even though they've spouted up across the municipality, dispensaries are currently illegal in all forms. The staff report says the only municipalities in the country with policies around dispensaries are in Western Canada, where the storefronts are much more common. The municipality could have a role in regulating dispensaries if the province decides to allow storefront sales. On the other hand, the province could decide to set up a Nova Scotia Liquor Commission-type system for marijuana, leaving the municipality with no role at all. Municipal staff want to start considering how it would regulate dispensaries while keeping an eye on the province. "Staff will initiate a policy review of cannabis dispensaries, and define any interim measures that could come into place while the Provincial government is working on the broader legislative framework for Nova Scotia," Sivak writes. - ---------------------------------------------------------- [sidebar] Suggestions Here are staff's three suggestions to consider regarding legalized pot. - - Follow the province's lead and wait for the bill to pass before considering changes. - - Prepare policies around commercial marijuana production facilities. - - Prepare policies and regulations for both production and marijuana dispensaries. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt