Pubdate: Wed, 29 Jan 2014
Source: Penticton Western (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Penticton Western
Contact:  http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1310
Author: Joe Fries

ALBAS PEPPERED ON POT ISSUES

Expect a few coughs when Canada's new medical marijuana regulations
roll out in April, MP Dan Albas told a group of local politicians last
week.

"Will the new regulations be perfect? No," said Albas, the
representative for Okanagan-Coquihalla.

"But regulations can be changed, and so let's try this new set of
rules that will take into account some of the considerations I've
heard, and as we learn how this new market operates and this new
system operates, we can continue to work on corrective actions when
needed."

Albas appeared before a committee of the Regional District of
Okanagan-Similkameen last week to discuss a host of local issues, but
pot dominated discussion.

Earlier this month the RDOS passed a motion calling on the
Agricultural Land Commission to reverse a ruling that makes production
of medical marijuana an allowable farm use.

Rural Oliver Director Allan Patton, who made the motion, told Albas
he's concerned local governments will have no say over siting of such
operations on agricultural land, even if they're beside a school.

"This kind of thing we need to be able to do and we can't do it now
because the ALC has said that it (growing medical marijuana) is an
allowable farm use," Patton said.

Albas said the ALC's pronouncement is a "made-in-B.C. issue" that
should be taken up with the provincial government, but he noted that
each application to grow pot will be judged carefully by Health Canada.

"If you take a situation, the worst-case scenario where you're talking
about next to a school or next to a neighbourhood or whatnot,
(applicants) have to address those concerns... and the cost may be
prohibitive in some of those cases," he said.

The MP also noted that grow-ops will need to otherwise comply with
local zoning bylaws, which will allow local governments a measure of
control.

But the director for Okanagan Falls-Kaleden said he's worried that
monitoring and enforcement of such facilities will essentially be
downloaded onto police and local governments.

"It puts a huge burden on the (police) if that is your only means of
ensuring standards are met and community concerns are respected," Tom
Siddon said.

Albas was also asked about the government's plan to shut down at-home
grow operations that will be banned as of April, but he said the onus
will be on licensees to quit.

"Human nature is that there may be (some) that do not comply, but they
do so at their own peril," he said.

Canada Post's decision to phase out home delivery of mail over the
next five years was also raised with the MP, who told the committee
the matter has generated surprisingly little heat in his riding.

"I've received very little feedback from constituents," Albas
said.

"In fact, the amount of people that are unhappy about it are smaller
than the people that have said they understand the need for any
corporation, given the circumstance that they've been given, to make
changes to its business model."

Albas said the change will affect about 12,000 households in his
riding, while another 38,600 households already pick up their own mail.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D