Pubdate: Tue, 14 Jan 2014
Source: Sudbury Star (CN ON)
Section: Front Page
Copyright: 2014 Osprey Media
Contact: http://www.thesudburystar.com/letters
Website: http://www.thesudburystar.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/608
Author: Laura Strickert

PUBLIC GETS POT INPUT

Reefer Madness it is not. At least, that's what the city's planning
committee hopes to avoid with the change in Canada's medical marijuana
rules.

March 31 is when the existing Marijuana Medical Access Program reaches
a blunt end.

As of April, medical marijuana will be legally accessible only through
producers licensed under the Marijuana for Medical Purposes
Regulations. It will be up to each municipality to decide where the
grow-ops may go.

"If we're getting the opportunity to be proactive and state where we
want these things to be ... then by god, we better be doing that and
doing a good job of it," said Dave Kilgour, who was renamed chair of
the committee at Monday's meeting.

A public hearing should be held as soon as possible, as per staff 's
recommendation, he added.

"We have an opportunity here to go through a public hearing and set up
our zoning rules to make this something that we can live with. If we
don't do something like that, we could be sitting here every meeting
dealing with applications to set up ... to grow marijuana within this
city without really having any say.

"Listen to the people then do the required zoning changes. We have a
chance to make our mark on this. Let's not pass it up at this time."

Coun. Evelyn Dutrisac chafed at the suggestion the city should be the
one to organize a public input session, saying the feds are
downloading the responsibility.

"Health Canada should be responsible for hosting these meetings and
educating the population," she said. "How much will it cost the city
to host these meetings and take care of this? It's a Health Canada
issue, they're the ones (doing this)."

The new regulations mean "licensed producers are required to notify
their local government, local police force and local fire officials of
their intention to apply to Health Canada, so that local authorities
are aware of their proposed location and activities," the staff report
explained.

"Licensed producers are also required to communicate with local
authorities whenever there is a change in the status of their license.
Licensed producers must comply with all federal, provincial/territorial
and municipal laws and bylaws, including municipal zoning bylaws."
Councillors had questions about how soon the public hearing could be
held, given the impending change to the rules.

"We'll be looking to bring this back as soon as we can, but we also
want to get it right," said Eric Taylor, director of planning
approvals. "I don't see it being next month," he continued, but
assured them a hearing will likely be held before summer. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D