Pubdate: Wed, 17 Apr 2013
Source: Nelson Star (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Black Press
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/4kNvY8sy
Website: http://www.bclocalnews.com/kootenay_rockies/nelsonstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4866
Author: Greg Nesteroff

NOTHING STOPS RDCK FROM GROWING MEDICAL POT: MP

Could municipalities and regional districts get into the medicinal 
marijuana growing business? There's nothing to stop them, the MP for 
Kootenay-Columbia told the Regional District of Central Kootenay 
board Thursday.

David Wilks made a presentation on new rules to be phased in over the 
next year, which will see mom-and-pop medical grow operations 
replaced with larger operations with greater security.

Rural Castlegar director Andy Davidoff asked if any consideration has 
been given to local government getting involved. He suggested 
greenhouses could be built on landfill sites, powered by methane gas.

The federal government doesn't prohibit any group from applying, 
Wilks replied. "The City of Kimberley asked me the other day with 
regards to the abandoned Sullivan mine. I went 'Hm, interesting.' 
Underground - you can't get much better security than that."

He said the bigger question is whether the average ratepayer would 
support their taxes being invested in such an operation.

"Would you be willing to look at a pilot in our area? And provide 
some seed money?" Davidoff asked, to laughter from some directors.

"I would suggest if there is one area in the country that could work 
as a pilot project, this would be it," Wilks deadpanned.

After the meeting, Davidoff said he wasn't being entirely facetious, 
and faced with downloading from senior governments and a 
"misperception" the regional district taxes heavily, they have to 
consider new revenue sources.

"Everything I said tongue-in-cheek is in the realm of possibility," 
he said. "It would take the will of the board to look at the 
feasibility study. Hopefully we could lower taxes for our residents."

Davidoff acknowledged there would be issues to get around, but "rest 
assured other municipalities will look at this very seriously."

Extra security required

In his presentation, Wilks responded to a number of questions raised 
by regional district planning staff about how the new guidelines will 
affect them.

He explained anyone who applies to be a licensed producer will have 
to notify local government, police, and fire officials of their 
proposed location and plans. Health Canada would enforce the medical 
marijuana regulations while local government would continue to 
enforce its own bylaws.

Grow operations won't be allowed outdoors or in homes, he said. "That 
was the largest problem with the old system. We have grow-ops within 
municipalities legislated by Health Canada and illegal grows as well 
and the police never knew which was which. This will make it very clear."

Security requirements will also be beefed up substantially. "Security 
to have a new grow-op will be huge," Wilks said. "It's probably going 
to deter most people from wanting to do this."

Under the old regulations, security was left up to the grower, he 
said. Under the new program, interior and exterior surveillance will 
be required at all times, both visual and electronic.

There will alarm systems, logbooks for anyone going in and out of 
restricted areas, and prospective employees will have to pass a 
criminal record check - as they do now - but it will be more stringent.

"It's my understanding if there's any criminal record, you will not 
be hired," Wilks said. "Doesn't matter what your crime was."

Exhaust or air filter systems will also be required to prevent odors 
from escaping.

Getting the product

Wilks also explained that under the new guidelines, medical marijuana 
users who have a prescription will be able to go to a website and 
find a list of producers that indicates who they are, but not where they are.

Customers will be able to contact them to determine if they're 
growing the marijuana that suits their medical needs and will be 
supplied directly by courier. Although there has been some talk of 
using pharmacies to dispense marijuana, Wilks said things haven't 
progressed to that stage yet.

Health Canada will review the average per-gram price throughout North 
America and Europe and base its price accordingly.

The current program and new system will operate simultaneously until 
March 31, 2014, but as of October 1, 2013 the government will no 
longer accept applications under the old rules. Wilks said anyone who 
hasn't already applied is probably too late, considering the 18-week 
growing cycles of the plants.

All personal production licenses will expire next April and holders 
will be required to destroy their crops or face prosecution. Wilks 
acknowledged many existing small producers may not be able to meet 
the new guidelines and may be displaced by larger operations.

He said 45,000 Canadians are currently authorized to use medicinal 
marijuana but that is expected to increase to between 100,000 and 
200,000 in the next few years, requiring "a significant number of 
commercial growers with significant grow-ops."

"Not everyone's going to be happy but it will satisfy the concerns of 
law enforcement and of most regional and municipal politicians about 
grow-ops in residential areas," he said.

Rural Kaslo director Andy Shadrack said Wilks addressed many issues 
municipalities have raised, but he remains concerned the legislation 
will be challenged by people who think they have the right to grow 
their own. "I'll say what no one else around the table will today: 
we've got to legalize it," Shadrack said. "That's ultimately where 
we've got to go.

The regional district has already heard from one potential applicant 
who would like to establish a medical growing operation on the North Shore.

However, their variance application was denied and they were told to 
apply for rezoning instead. Under the new rules, commercial grow 
operations will have to be in agricultural or industrial areas.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom