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

ANTI-MARIJUANA MAYORS PRESS MINISTER TO DECLARE HIMSELF

Langley mayor Jack Froese, Abbotsford Mayor Bruce Banman, Delta mayor
Lois Jackson and Kelowna mayor Walter Gray have sent a joint letter
urging provincial agriculture minister Pat Pimm to say if he supports
or opposes a ban on medical marijuana production on protected farm
land.

The four municipalities are required by law to get provincial approval
for any regulations that might affect farming within the Agricultural
Land Reserve (ALR) inside their borders.

The letter signed by all four mayors says they have a "collective
desire to prohibit establishment of medical marijuana operations in
agricultural areas" and asks the minister what his intentions are.

"We would appreciate knowing your position with respect to our
request," the letter reads.

The minister has so far refused to reveal whether he supports such
restrictions, but the provincial agricultural land commission, which
controls the ALR as an arms-length provincial government entity, has
said medicinal marijuana would be considered a "permitted farm use."

In the Township of Langley, at least one commercial greenhouse grower
within its boundaries has begun cultivating medical marijuana to
prepare for new federal regulations that will, next year, switch
production from hundreds of small grow operations to a smaller number
of bigger facilities.
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MAP posted-by: Matt