The smell of marijuana is causing a stink within Vernon city hall. A majority of council directed city staff Monday to research potential methods to regulate marijuana odours after a request from Coun. Scott Anderson. "There have been complaints during the harvest season when the smell becomes intolerable," he said. Anderson hopes the process will determine what legal procedures municipalities have to tackle odours from legal and illegal marijuana grow operations in residential neighbourhoods. However, not everyone supports Anderson's plans. Opposition to Anderson's motion came from Councillors Juliette Cunningham and Dalvir Nahal. Nahal insists marijuana grow operations aren't the business of the city. "It (marijuana) is a federal and provincial jurisdiction so we shouldn't be imposing it at the municipal level," she said. [end]
The City of Vernon Is Not Cracking Down on Marijuana Dispensaries. Council decided Monday not to investigate a zoning bylaw that would prohibit marijuana operations. "I haven't heard any complaints from the public," said Coun. Juliette Cunningham. "It's federal jurisdiction and we are taking on enough downloading from the lack of action from other governments." Coun. Catherine Lord insists city staff are currently busy and don't need to take on policing marijuana sales. "Until we get more clarity from other levels of government, I don't want us spending any more time on it," she said. [continues 121 words]
Vernon's elected officials appear reluctant to wade into the issue of medical marijuana. On Monday, a representative from a medical cannabis dispensary told city council that there is a need for standards within the industry and municipalities should control the number of outlets open and where they are located. "We should legalize and regulate marijuana but it's not within municipal jurisdiction," said Coun. Scott Anderson, adding that only Ottawa can set the terms of medical marijuana. "Until the federal government decides what it wants to do, we will have problems." [continues 215 words]
Parents may worry about cocaine or other drugs but substances closer at hand may present more harm to their children. The Vernon School District will present a public discussion on the medical aspects of teen substance abuse Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Vernon Secondary School. "When you talk to kids and families, they have a perspective on drugs and alcohol and it's based on misconceptions," said Doug Ross, the district's substance abuse prevention counsellor. However, while there is a focus on cocaine and other hard drugs, Rogers says 90 per cent of drug-related deaths in Canada involve tobacco and alcohol. [continues 125 words]
Medical marijuana can now be legally grown in Lumby. Council adopted a bylaw Monday that would allow medical marijuana production facilities to apply for a business license from the village. "It was a housekeeping issue, there were no issues with it," said Mayor Kevin Acton. Council recently agreed that medical marijuana production can occur on industrial land, and Acton believes such activities could bolster the community's economy. "We have 200 acres of industrial property," he said. "That's taxable income and jobs translate into stores and housing." [continues 66 words]
Medical marijuana will not be grown in Enderby. City council has adopted a bylaw that prohibits medical marijuana production facilities in virtually all zones. "It doesn't need to be in the city just like a dairy farm shouldn't be in the city," said Coun. Brad Case. "It should be out in the Agricultural Land Reserve." The city bylaw will regulate medical marijuana production in the ALR, but there is very limited ALR property in Enderby, so such activities are unlikely. [continues 61 words]
A new economic development endeavour is being encouraged to bloom in Lumby. Council adopted a bylaw Monday that will allow medical marijuana to be grown and processed on industrial land. "We are the first community in the area to do this so we're open for business," said Mayor Kevin Acton. Acton anticipates the village will market its openness to medical marijuana production. "If people have a proposal, they should contact us," he said. "We have an empty industrial park that needs to be serviced so let's get going." [end]
Regional District of North Okanagan politicians are heading back to the drawing board when it comes to medicinal marijuana. Third reading of a bylaw outlining where facilities growing and processing medicinal marijuana can be located in the electoral areas was postponed Wednesday so possible changes can be made to the document. "We need a bylaw that's not overly onerous," said director Bob Fleming. The postponement came after a public hearing in which operators of medicinal marijuana facilities protested the bylaw stipulating that operations in the rural zone would only be allowed on properties eight hectares (19.77 acres) in size. [continues 278 words]
Local officials are scrambling over the potential management of industrial marijuana planations. The Regional District of North Okanagan is attempting to understand its role under proposed federal rules that would see medicinal marijuana operations shift from homes to commercial settings in 2014. "These aren't just little fields of green plants. We're looking at how to manage the impact," Rob Smailes, general manager of planning and building, told electoral area directors Thursday. "A lot of people are scratching their heads about this. We are responsible for regulating land use and buildings and this is being dropped right down in the middle of that." [continues 290 words]
Enderby wants to take a stand on drugs. The city is currently investigating whether drug-free zones should be established. "It's a multi-faceted approach. It's not just about putting up a sign," said Mayor Howie Cyr. Drug-free zones were created in Canada 10 years ago as a joint effort between school districts, federal Crown, communities and law enforcement. The goal is to ensure harsher sentences for people trafficking within zones around schools and to deter drug activity from moving into these areas. [continues 200 words]
Marijuana laws will go up in smoke if B.C.'s civic leaders have their way. Delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Victoria voted Wednesday to lobby the federal government to decriminalize marijuana. "We want to put control in the hands of regulators," said Kevin Acton, Lumby mayor, who raised his hand in favour of the resolution. "By being illegal, we keep activities underground." Acton is convinced decriminalizing marijuana will assist police by negatively impacting gangs. "It takes away dollars from the people doing other illegal activities," he said. [continues 272 words]
Another North Okanagan community is demanding marijuana be decriminalized. Members of Lumby council voted Monday to ask senior government to regulate and tax cannabis products. "It will put cannabis in the same category as alcohol and tobacco. Authorities would be able to control the product," said Coun. Nick Hodge. Similar stances have already been taken by Vernon, Enderby, Armstrong and Lake Country. For Hodge, government control of marijuana would reduce the activities of criminal organizations. "It would cut off 70 per cent of their funding," he said of gangs. [continues 174 words]
North Okanagan mayors are among those demanding marijuana be decriminalized. A coalition of eight B.C. mayors are urging Premier Christy Clark, NDP leader Adrian Dix and B.C. Conservative leader John Cummins to support the strict regulation of marijuana and taxation. "We want to raise the profile of public safety and the issue of failed public policy," said Rob Sawatzky, Vernon mayor and a member of the coalition. "It directly impacts us with crime and policing." Among the others in the coalition are Enderby's Howie Cyr, Armstrong's Chris Pieper and James Baker from Lake Country. [continues 227 words]
Lumby officials aren't making any rash decisions on decriminalizing marijuana. Instead of urging senior government to regulate cannabis, council opted Monday to pursue more information before making a decision May 7. "I want people to find out information from the other side," said Mayor Kevin Acton. "When you have a delegation and hear from just one side, you wonder where the bad to all of this is." On Monday, there was a presentation from Stop the Violence B.C., which wants marijuana regulated as a way of reducing crime and creating a new source of revenue for communities. [continues 170 words]
Vernon politicians have joined the chorus calling for marijuana laws to be scrapped. Council voted Tuesday to ask the federal government to regulate cannabis as a way of reducing crime, rationalizing police resources and creating a new source of revenue for communities. "Prohibition and criminalization hasn't worked. This is a possibility of a new approach," said Coun. Bob Spiers. Mayor Rob Sawatzky also supports legalizing access to marijuana. "Most well informed people who have studied the issue have determined prohibition is a failed policy," he said. [continues 117 words]
Enderby politicians want marijuana decriminalized and taxed. A majority of council voted Monday to ask senior government to regulate cannabis as a way of reducing crime, rationalizing police resources and creating a new source of revenue for communities. "We're not saying we agree with marijuana but the current process is not working and it fuels the gangs," said Mayor Howie Cyr, a former RCMP officer. "Instead of throwing countless people into jail (for marijuana possession) and spending money on enforcement, treat it like cigarettes or prescription drugs." [continues 314 words]
There is a concern that medicinal marijuana may be fuelling criminal activity. On Monday, the City of Vernon supported the RCMP's demands that the federal government notify enforcement agencies and municipalities on where licenses to grow marijuana have been issued. "We need to know where they are so we can make sure things are policed properly and there is no risk to neighbours," said Coun. Bob Spiers . The RCMP claim licensed medical marijuana-grow sites have led to participation by organized crime and home invasions because of the potential profits from the illegal sale of marijuana. [continues 208 words]
The Village of Lumby is joining the fight to identify those using marijuana for medical purposes. Council is backing an RCMP initiative to have the federal government notify enforcement agencies and municipalities on where licenses to grow marijuana have been issued. "Everyone involved should know where these grow-ops are," said Mayor Kevin Acton referring to the police, fire department and bylaw enforcement. "I was shocked to find out that they don't know." The local RCMP have asked all local jurisdictions to pursue the matter at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in September. [continues 186 words]
Residents of one Enderby neighbourhood are concerned about drug activity. Council heard Monday from residents of Regent and Russell avenues, who allege there are houses in the area being used in the drug trade. "We've passed the information on to the RCMP and we'll keep them up to date," said Mayor Dee Wejr. While the city has a property remediation bylaw, it only comes into place when it's been proven there are drugs being manufactured in a residence. Occupancy is then restricted until the structure meets building codes. [continues 174 words]
The City of Vernon will enforce existing regulations to tackle so-called crack shacks. Council has been told by staff that all of the actions being sought by the East Hill Blockwatch group are already in place to handle properties that are believed to be involved in the drug trade. "They will use the existing bylaw to impose penalties," said Coun. Bob Spiers of bylaw enforcement. The East Hill Blockwatch recently asked the city to send RCMP officers for crack shack training and to have the city investigate initiatives in Surrey. It also wants the nuisance abatement fee applied to greater effect. [continues 247 words]
