Pubdate: Fri, 30 Nov 2012
Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Kamloops Daily News
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/679
Page: 23

GROW-OP BYLAW GOOD FIRST STEP

It may be one of the most controversial zoning bylaw hearings ever -
city hall is looking at restricting licensed medical marijuana grow
operations to industrial zoned areas.

City officials are taking the first tentative steps toward a sensible
answer to changes expected in federal regulations. They have no choice
but to be tentative because no one knows what the changes will be and
whether municipalities will have any say in how they are carried out
or enforced.

As it stands, cities like Kamloops are too often left holding the bag
when things go wrong. Licensed grow ops don't always follow the
restrictions placed on them, so police resources (paid for by city
taxpayers) are used to enforce them. If a grow op results in mould
problems, city inspectors have to deal with that issue.

But even law-abiding, health-conscious growers can present a danger to
the neighbours by their very existence, becoming targets of criminals
bent on stealing the product. Unless there is a complaint, the City
can do little about this, because the federal government does not
reveal if or where the operations exist.

The federal government has not been forthcoming about the upcoming
changes, either. But municipalities expect there will be a move to
take grow ops out of residential areas, and to concentrate them into
larger operations.

A bylaw restricting grow ops to industrial areas makes sense. The City
would actually know where they are and be able to monitor their
activity. Of course, it would be helpful if the federal government
backed up this restriction by spelling it out in licensing agreements.

Placing licensed grow ops in industrial areas would also improve
security by taking them out of neighbourhoods. Even the best-run grow
ops can be a magnet for criminals. Security measures would be easier
to implement in industrial areas and police might more easily respond
to problems.

As sensible as this zoning bylaw may be, many questions will need to
be answered before it can properly be implemented.

For example, medical marijuana users - many of whom are on disability
or fixed incomes - have legitimate concerns about whether a move to
larger operations in industrial areas would increase the cost of their
medication. And producers worry they won't be able to afford the rent.

Also, the City will look to the federal government to compensate the
monitoring costs of a situation it is creating.

For these reasons, and more, a public hearing is a good idea. We need
to air out these concerns.

Let's just hope people don't misuse it as an opportunity to grandstand
on a controversial topic.

The City needs to move forward in a way that benefits all residents.
The proposed zoning changes are a good first step in that direction.
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MAP posted-by: Matt