Pubdate: Wed, 23 Apr 2014 Source: Meaford Express, The (CN ON) Page: Front Page Copyright: 2014 Metroland Media Group Ltd. Contact: http://www.simcoe.com/meaford-on/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4855 Author: Chris Fell COUNCIL WANTS RULES FOR MEDICINAL MARIJUANA FARMS Meaford council wants to get some planning regulations in place to control where potential medicinal marijuana grow operations can be located in the municipality. Meaford council at its regular meeting on Monday, April 14 passed a resolution giving staff permission to begin a planning study of the issue. In addition, council asked for an interim control bylaw that will prohibit medicinal marijuana grow operations from being established on agricultural, rural, specialty agricultural, commercial, development or industrial land in the municipality while the study is ongoing. Planning and Building Director Rob Armstrong authored a report about the medicinal grow operation issue and recommended the steps that council enacted. Armstrong said the federal government is making changes to the rules on such grow operations to ensure that marijuana grown for medicinal purposes is done in a safe and regulated fashion. "This is a new issue. We have received a number of inquiries and our planning documents don't regulate this use," Armstrong explained. A planning study into the matter would take a look at what planning regulations should be in place for such operations and determine the appropriate zones for the location of such operations. "We'll take a look at best practices and after the study we'll bring in proper amendments to our zoning bylaw," he said. Armstrong said it's important for the municipality to have planning regulations in place for medicinal marijuana grow operations, because the government does allow them. "Health Canada is giving permits to anybody that qualifies - it's then up to them to satisfy the municipality," said Armstrong. Mayor Francis Richardson pointed out that the federal government still allows municipalities to self regulate on this matter - unlike the provincial government, which took away municipal planning control for alternative energy projects through its draconian Green Energy Act. "This is one place where the upper level of government has not taken planning control out of our hands," said Richardson. Councillor Mike Poetker said he is pleased to see staff getting ahead of the ball on the matter, which will allow the municipality to get policies in place and avoid reacting on the issue. "This is a proactive measure. We've been caught on our heels a couple of times," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D