Pubdate: Thu, 19 Dec 2013
Source: Langley Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Langley Times
Contact:  http://www.langleytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1230
Author: Dan Ferguson

A GROWING INTEREST IN MARIJUANA PRODUCTION

At least eight businesses want to grow medicinal marijuana in Langley
Township.

Mayor Jack Froese made the disclosure during debate on a proposed
bylaw that would ban commercial marijuana production from the
Agricultural Land Reserve that makes up 75 per cent of the Township.

The bylaw would restrict growing to industrial areas.

Froese said seven of the eight known proposed commercial grow ops
would be located in the ALR, a fact that lends some urgency to the
proposed ban.

"Time is of the essence," Froese said.

"We should have something in place."

New federal government regulations that will take effect April 1 of
next year will switch medicinal marijuana growing from the current
system of small operations with one or two clients to larger
commercial-style bulk growing.

Council gave final approval to the proposed ban on Monday (Dec. 16),
but the regulation still has to be approved by the provincial ministry
of agriculture which has final say over farming in the ALR.

So far, only one of the would-be Langley growers has gone
public.

Koch Greenhouses owner Bruce Bakker came to Township council on Dec. 9
to call the attempt to restrict medicinal marijuana cultivation to
industrial areas "troubling" and complain the ban was drafted without
consulting farmers.

Two members of council thought the Township should slow down the
approval process and take a second look at the regulations.

Councillor Bob Long said Langley should follow the example of Maple
Ridge, which has done exactly the opposite by restricting medicinal
marijuana to the ALR.

"Maple Ridge is going south and we're going north," Long
said.

Councillor David Davis said the news that existing greenhouse
operators are going into marijuana production helps address his
concern that usable farmland would be lost to construction of
fortress-like growing facilities.

"I don't think the sky is going to fall," Davis said.

"Not a lot is going to happen April 1."

Davis and Long were unable to convince the rest of
council.

"We discussed this [the bylaw]," Councillor Grant Ward
said.

"We've got to move forward."

"We have to do something," Councillor Charlie Fox said.

"We can't sit still and tread water on this one."

The Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) the provincial agency that
administers the ALR, recently declared that medical marijuana growing
on agricultural land is protected under farming regulations that
override the the Township of Langley's authority.

However, the agriculture minister has yet to make a ruling.
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MAP posted-by: Matt