Pubdate: Thu, 16 Jan 2014
Source: Guardian, The (CN PI)
Copyright: 2014 The Guardian, Charlottetown Guardian Group Incorporated
Contact:  http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/174

CITY IN FRONT OF MARIJUANA GROW ISSUE

Council Makes Unexpected Motion To Seek Public Input On
Amendment

There is no truth to the rumour ( started here) that Charlottetown
city council is considering a motto change from ' Cunabula Foederis'
(literally Cradle of the Federation but officially translated as
Birthplace of Confederation) to ' Cannabis Foederis.' It just wouldn't
be appropriate in this 150th anniversary year of the Charlottetown
Conference which led to the creation of the Dominion of Canada.

Seriously, the city is wise to get in front of the legal production of
medical marijuana issue. The recent controversy swirling nationally
about decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana has made it a hot topic.
But there was the normally cautious chair of planning, Rob Lantz,
bringing the issue to the floor and getting a 9- 0 vote in support of
a motion to proceed to public consultations on amending the city's
bylaw to allow for the construction of such a facility.

The plant would cater to medical marijuana production and in the event
weed ever gets decriminalized or legalized, the plant could be ramped
up to produce even more. Like it or not, it's now the law of the land
that doctors can prescribe marijuana for pain relief and other medical
issues and Health Canada has to make it available. Someone has to
produce it and there is the potential for lots of money to be made
from growing it.

Just look at what happened in Colorado in recent weeks where
possession of small amounts for personal use is now legal. Residents
can buy from approved retailers selling state-licensed weed. There
were lineups and sellouts. The state thinks it will raise hundreds of
millions of dollars in taxes.

Charlottetown is already taking steps to ease citizens' concerns. The
resolution stipulated that a medical marijuana production facility
could only be built in a business park industrial zone, such as the
biocommons park with strict security, protection and control. Coun.
Lantz says there are no applications from anyone seeking to build such
a plant, but he has heard reports that an application is coming and
it's best to be ready to act quickly. It would be a boon for city
coffers and employment. His reasoning is that the plant is better
located here than somewhere outside the city or outside the province.
Lantz views it as an economic development opportunity for the city. It
makes sense.

Would the HST apply? Of course. P. E. I. Finance Minister Wes Sheridan
must already be counting his new tax revenue.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D