Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
New rules regulating where in the city federally licenced medical marijuana grow operations can set up shop were given the green light Monday.
City council approved by an 8-1 vote third reading of changes to the zoning bylaw that would limit these Health Canada-approved facilities to greenbelt, agriculture and forestry and light, general and business industrial zones. Coun. Albert Koehler voted in opposition.
Specifically, the zoning applies to properties in the Agricultural Land Reserve larger than 15 hectares and in the BCR, Danson and Boundary Road industrial parks on smaller parcels.
Any applications for the new zoning sub category will be required to come before council in a public hearing. The changes add a definition of a grow operation to the zoning bylaws and specifically exclude "any medical marijuana grow operation uses" from its definition of agriculture and greenhouse and plant nursery.
New Health Canada rules around the production of medical marijuana came into effect last April that aimed at removing growing from residences. However there is currently a matter before the courts regarding personal use production that allows anyone who had the ability to grow under the old federal rules to continue to do so.
In addition to meeting the federal regulations, any facility would need a building permit and business licence, a letter of assurance from a qualified professional that there's a ventilation plan in place in accordance with the federal rules, a fire safety plan submitted for review and a waste discharge permit.
It also restricts any growing of the drug in a van down by the river as medicinal weed facilities are not permitted in shipping or cargo containers, rail cars, modular units, mobile homes, camper or any other type of vehicle.
It's high time the city got on board with treating marijuana as a standardized drug, according to Coun. Jillian Merrick, who called marijuana "a pharmaceutical with some extra baggage."
"There are other substances out there on the open market that require prescriptions that are treated in a standardized fashion and I don't think we should go above and beyond for a certain product," Merrick said. "I think we need consistency across the pharmaceutical industry."
In an email to city staff providing comment on the proposed bylaw changes, Gordon Bednard with the Agricultural Land Commission mentioned he was "concerned that a MMPR proponent may challenge the setback provisions as being excessive and prohibitive."
Under the new zoning rules, these facilities would be required to have a one-kilometre setback from neighbouring residential and correctional service properties.
A pair of prospective medical marijuana dispensers used Monday night's public hearing to see if there was a way to include an allowance for their business model in the scope of the bylaw.
"For all intents and purposes, we are a pharmacy," said John Stiles, who, along with business partner Doug Jamieson, was advised that the evening's proceedings were focused more on growing facilities.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: City approves medical marijuana zoning
Author: Charelle Evelyn
Contact: letters@pgcitizen.ca
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Prince George Citizen
City council approved by an 8-1 vote third reading of changes to the zoning bylaw that would limit these Health Canada-approved facilities to greenbelt, agriculture and forestry and light, general and business industrial zones. Coun. Albert Koehler voted in opposition.
Specifically, the zoning applies to properties in the Agricultural Land Reserve larger than 15 hectares and in the BCR, Danson and Boundary Road industrial parks on smaller parcels.
Any applications for the new zoning sub category will be required to come before council in a public hearing. The changes add a definition of a grow operation to the zoning bylaws and specifically exclude "any medical marijuana grow operation uses" from its definition of agriculture and greenhouse and plant nursery.
New Health Canada rules around the production of medical marijuana came into effect last April that aimed at removing growing from residences. However there is currently a matter before the courts regarding personal use production that allows anyone who had the ability to grow under the old federal rules to continue to do so.
In addition to meeting the federal regulations, any facility would need a building permit and business licence, a letter of assurance from a qualified professional that there's a ventilation plan in place in accordance with the federal rules, a fire safety plan submitted for review and a waste discharge permit.
It also restricts any growing of the drug in a van down by the river as medicinal weed facilities are not permitted in shipping or cargo containers, rail cars, modular units, mobile homes, camper or any other type of vehicle.
It's high time the city got on board with treating marijuana as a standardized drug, according to Coun. Jillian Merrick, who called marijuana "a pharmaceutical with some extra baggage."
"There are other substances out there on the open market that require prescriptions that are treated in a standardized fashion and I don't think we should go above and beyond for a certain product," Merrick said. "I think we need consistency across the pharmaceutical industry."
In an email to city staff providing comment on the proposed bylaw changes, Gordon Bednard with the Agricultural Land Commission mentioned he was "concerned that a MMPR proponent may challenge the setback provisions as being excessive and prohibitive."
Under the new zoning rules, these facilities would be required to have a one-kilometre setback from neighbouring residential and correctional service properties.
A pair of prospective medical marijuana dispensers used Monday night's public hearing to see if there was a way to include an allowance for their business model in the scope of the bylaw.
"For all intents and purposes, we are a pharmacy," said John Stiles, who, along with business partner Doug Jamieson, was advised that the evening's proceedings were focused more on growing facilities.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: City approves medical marijuana zoning
Author: Charelle Evelyn
Contact: letters@pgcitizen.ca
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Prince George Citizen
