Pubdate: Wed, 24 Jul 2013
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Jon Willing

A BUDDING INDUSTRY

Commercial Grow-Ops in Works for City

Sam Mellace says he will apply to open a medical marijuana facility in Ottawa.

According to Mellace, who has been a federally licensed grower for a 
decade, he has already purchased a former school in the rural west 
end to convert into a growing lab.

But that's as much as he would say for now about his ambitions in the 
nation's capital.

Mellace, the manager of New Age Medical Solutions, wants to open 30 
commercial medical marijuana facilities from Vancouver to Quebec City 
under a new federal licensing regime.

"Ottawa is going to be next," Mellace told the Sun Tuesday.

"We're going to get as many production sites as possible."

The feds want to eliminate the production of medical marijuana by 
licensed home growers or those contracted by Health Canada. Instead, 
the feds want to let the drug be grown indoors by licensed commercial 
producers. Patients will need a prescription to buy marijuana from 
the producers. Health Canada will stop producing marijuana for 
approved patients next April 1.

Mellace said he has not yet talked with city planners or council 
members about his plan.

He said that will come with the production application.

Residents with ideas about where medical marijuana facilities should 
be located in Ottawa better pipe up now.

The city's planning department is currently gathering feedback from 
residents on where the legal pot-growing operations can be located. 
Planners are researching the matter with regards to zoning before 
reporting back to council in the fall.

For the city, the federal changes mean trying to decide where the 
facilities should be located if producers are considering 
applications to set up in Ottawa and what kind of zoning rules should 
apply to the sites. The rules could include setbacks from roads, size 
of operations and use of sewers.

Under federal regulations, the city would get a heads up by the 
person applying to get a production licence for a proposed site.

Ottawa police and fire services would also get notice.

Last February, council directed staff to research all the planning 
implications surrounding the establishment of commercial medical 
marijuana facilities in Ottawa. Staff are preparing a bylaw 
amendment, which requires public consultation.

The planning committee and the agriculture and rural affairs 
committee are scheduled to receive a report with recommendations in 
October. Feedback from residents is also expected in the report.

Questions and feedback can be sent to  ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom