Pubdate: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 Source: Orangeville Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2014 Orangeville Citizen Contact: http://www.citizen.on.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2529 Author: James Matthews TOWN SEEKING LEGAL OPINION ON COMMERCIAL MARIJUANA OPS Orangeville council will get a legal opinion to guide them on how the town may deal with applications for commercial marijuana grow operations in the town. Councillor Jeremy Williams said during Monday's council meeting the possibility of a facility opening in Orangeville where medical marijuana would be grown, and how such an application could be dealt with, needs to be discussed in detail. Otherwise, he said, council may face a similar situation to one experienced in 2012 when the prospect of a methadone clinic opening caused people anxiety. Opponents of the methadone clinic stressed the importance of such a facility being located away from residential areas, preferably in a health-care facility or area zoned commercial. Coun. Sylvia Bradley said there are so many questions to be answered before changes to Health Canada regulations regarding medical marijuana come into effect in April. The town's economic development director provided council a report in December on those regulations changes that affect how medical marijuana is obtained by patients and under what conditions it will be produced in Canada. Previously, Health Canada rules allowed medical marijuana users to procure it themselves by designating someone to produce it on their behalf or obtain it directly from Health Canada. Changes to the Medical Marijuana Access System regulations now require a licensing protocol allowing for large-scale operations. Essentially, medical marijuana will be turned over to the private sector for production. That means patients have to obtain their pot only from a federally approved and regulated commercial grower, from their doctor, or from a pharmacist. Coun. Bradley said council needs to investigate whether the new regulations stipulate facility ventilation requirements, security specifications, the operation's size, and particular zoning requirements. She wondered if there'd be the same objections to Bayer opening a facility to manufacture aspirin. "I view this as a pharmaceutical facility just like any other pharmaceutical facility," she said, and added that marijuana is a painkiller that some people need. There are vacant buildings in Orangeville suitable for production and manufacturing. And there's a workforce in need of employment. "What are the downsides?" Coun. Bradley said. Coun. Scott Wilson said it's important for council to not be too lenient with zoning requirements and bylaw governance of such facilities, just as it's important not to be too stringent or restrictive. "There's such a grey area right now," said Coun. Gail Campbell. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D