Robert Celt
New Member
Despite apprehension from some around the table, the planning advisory committee has lit up bylaw amendments aimed at sheltering the city from improper medical marijuana production and sale.
City council will now have to decide if the committee recommendation to clearly define how and where these retail and manufacturing facilities can operate can proceed on to become law. Public input can be submitted on the issue as well.
Coun. Paul Carr declined to back the definitions due to reservations about the inclusion of dispensaries and the sale of marijuana and its by-products from those facilities. A motion to slash the dispensary (retail) aspect failed to pass.
"I'm concerned about going down that road," he said, adding from his research, other municipalities have addressed the industrial aspect only for Health Canada medical purposes.
The proposed amended zoning rules now stipulate "medical marijuana facility shall mean premises used for the growing, producing, testing, destroying, storing, or distribution of medical marijuana or cannabis authorized by a license issued by Health Canada."
It also states "marijuana dispensary shall mean a business selling or dispensing marijuana or cannabis products as the primary activity of the business."
Current zoning bylaws predate the establishment of such uses, therefore making it unclear whether a medical marijuana production facility could currently be interpreted as an agricultural or industrial use.
"I'm not going to support the resolution because of the dispensary, retail side of it." Carr said.
Carr sought clarity as to whether it would be best to hit the brakes on doing anything altogether until further direction trickles down from Ottawa.
That's one option, but city planner Greg Pinchin said, as it stands, uses aren't clearly defined for retailing or production, leaving the door open for any person to claim their typical retail shop or manufacturing facility fits the criteria.
Defined wording makes it any applicant for those uses would be required to seek a zoning amendment before setting up shop.
Vancouver provides a example of a city struggling to properly regulate retailers who are skirting the rules.
"There are a lot of retail outlets that are operating in a grey area," he said. "With the potential change in (federal) regulation.., we want to make sure we're in front."
In doing so the city prevents facilities from sprouting up everywhere," Pinchin said.
Coun. Mike Graham, a staunch opposer of the dispensing of marijuana products, backed Carr's stance on the issue.
"The dispensary will never get my support," he said.
City director Rod Bovay encouraged the committee to be preemptive, saying the storyline to date shows the federal government hasn't taken an aggressive approach to clamping down on operators in the grey area.
"It's causing problems," he said. "That's really the reason we're getting on top of this."
Failing to set the ground rules could could result in someone opening shops anywhere, including downtown or near a school – and council has no tools to prevent it, he said.
"We would be at the whim of enforcement from the federal government," he said.
Mayor Taso Christopher said it's a good start in anticipating pending changes.
"I think staff is ahead of the curve here," he said, adding he wouldn't supporting splitting the issues and dropping specifications for dispensing. "We have nothing in play to control or do anything.
Committee member David Joyce noted "this gives us an ounce of protection, better than what we got by doing nothing," despite saying he's not a supporter of the concept.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Belleville, ON: Planning Committee Approves Pot Amendment
Author: Jason Miller
Photo Credit: Jason Miller
Website: The Intelligencer
City council will now have to decide if the committee recommendation to clearly define how and where these retail and manufacturing facilities can operate can proceed on to become law. Public input can be submitted on the issue as well.
Coun. Paul Carr declined to back the definitions due to reservations about the inclusion of dispensaries and the sale of marijuana and its by-products from those facilities. A motion to slash the dispensary (retail) aspect failed to pass.
"I'm concerned about going down that road," he said, adding from his research, other municipalities have addressed the industrial aspect only for Health Canada medical purposes.
The proposed amended zoning rules now stipulate "medical marijuana facility shall mean premises used for the growing, producing, testing, destroying, storing, or distribution of medical marijuana or cannabis authorized by a license issued by Health Canada."
It also states "marijuana dispensary shall mean a business selling or dispensing marijuana or cannabis products as the primary activity of the business."
Current zoning bylaws predate the establishment of such uses, therefore making it unclear whether a medical marijuana production facility could currently be interpreted as an agricultural or industrial use.
"I'm not going to support the resolution because of the dispensary, retail side of it." Carr said.
Carr sought clarity as to whether it would be best to hit the brakes on doing anything altogether until further direction trickles down from Ottawa.
That's one option, but city planner Greg Pinchin said, as it stands, uses aren't clearly defined for retailing or production, leaving the door open for any person to claim their typical retail shop or manufacturing facility fits the criteria.
Defined wording makes it any applicant for those uses would be required to seek a zoning amendment before setting up shop.
Vancouver provides a example of a city struggling to properly regulate retailers who are skirting the rules.
"There are a lot of retail outlets that are operating in a grey area," he said. "With the potential change in (federal) regulation.., we want to make sure we're in front."
In doing so the city prevents facilities from sprouting up everywhere," Pinchin said.
Coun. Mike Graham, a staunch opposer of the dispensing of marijuana products, backed Carr's stance on the issue.
"The dispensary will never get my support," he said.
City director Rod Bovay encouraged the committee to be preemptive, saying the storyline to date shows the federal government hasn't taken an aggressive approach to clamping down on operators in the grey area.
"It's causing problems," he said. "That's really the reason we're getting on top of this."
Failing to set the ground rules could could result in someone opening shops anywhere, including downtown or near a school – and council has no tools to prevent it, he said.
"We would be at the whim of enforcement from the federal government," he said.
Mayor Taso Christopher said it's a good start in anticipating pending changes.
"I think staff is ahead of the curve here," he said, adding he wouldn't supporting splitting the issues and dropping specifications for dispensing. "We have nothing in play to control or do anything.
Committee member David Joyce noted "this gives us an ounce of protection, better than what we got by doing nothing," despite saying he's not a supporter of the concept.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Belleville, ON: Planning Committee Approves Pot Amendment
Author: Jason Miller
Photo Credit: Jason Miller
Website: The Intelligencer
