Pubdate: Mon, 11 Mar 2013 Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2013 Nanaimo Daily News Contact: http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608 Author: Darrell Bellaart CITY MAY CONTROL POT SALES WITH ZONING BYLAWS Report expected by April Zoning bylaws to control medical marijuana production and sales could soon be on the books at city hall. City planners attended a legal workshop this week to prepare for new federal laws that will change how medical marijuana is produced and sold. Next spring, third-party growers will no longer be licensed to grow several cannabis plans at home to supply licensed medical marijuana users. Instead, Health Canada will limit the production and sale of cannabis to commercial operators, similar to how other drugs are made and distributed. With more than half of all personal production licenses held in B.C., some cities, such as Surrey and Maple Ridge, are already eyeing new zoning regulations to control the sale and production of pot. Nanaimo city staff members are now preparing a report to city council listing regulatory options, which could be ready, as early as the end of the month. "This whole thing, municipalities across Canada are working out how to deal with this," said Andrew Tucker, city director of planning. Vancouver lawyer Bill Buholzer led a workshop on regulating grow-ops and pot dispensaries for Island municipalities in Victoria Wednesday. Under the Medical Marijuana Access Regulations, anyone licensed to use pot for health reasons can designate a friend or other person as a grower-supplier. Some 9,300 people hold personal production licences in B.C. City officials learned about regulatory problems recently when city hall received an application for an escort service at the same address where a marijuana dispensary already exists. Without specific zoning regulations, staff are currently powerless to block either use. Surrey may have applicants undergo a public hearing in order to get a business licence. In Maple Ridge, grow operations would be considered commercial farms, allowable on lands designated for such use under the B.C. Agricultural Land Reserve. It's too early to say if existing pot dispensaries would get a grandfather clause allowing them to continue to operate. "That's what we're trying to work out, the legal ramifications of that," Tucker said. "One of the things the lawyer said at this seminar, some municipalities are actually seeing this as an economic development tool. "He didn't name the municipality, but he did say his office has been contacted by some municipalities." The council report should be ready "later this month or early April." - --- MAP posted-by: Matt