Pubdate: Thu, 12 Jun 2014
Source: Liberal, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014, Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing
Contact:  http://www.yorkregion.com/richmondhill-on/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2347
Author: Kim Zarzour

SHOULD CITIZENS HELP DETERMINE LEGAL GROW-OP LOCATIONS?

Do you care about where medical marijuana is grown in Richmond
Hill?

Town councillors may want your opinion.

With new federal regulations opening the doors to legal pharmaceutical
pot production, the town is considering the possibility of a citizen
committee.

The idea was first raised Monday at council committee by Regional
Councillor Brenda Hogg, who said many questions remain unanswered
following enactment of the regulations April 1.

One company, Dyma Inc., has already stepped forward with a request to
locate an indoor pot-growing facility at 75 Newkirk Rd., just north of
the GO train station in Ward 2, but the town's chief building official
deemed it an agricultural activity and ruled against it.

Dyma has appealed that decision to Ontario Superior Court, with a
hearing date set for July 4.

The location, a vacant building in an industrial-zoned area owned by
Crestview Investment, raises questions, Hogg said.

"Centre Street, Crosby, Belvedere Court and Sussex are all in close
proximity to this industrial area, she said, referring to residential
streets. "Does this make a difference? I don't know.

"I'm not even sure our residents are informed about what's going on
right now."

She said other municipalities are also grappling with the
issue.

East Gwillimbury has implemented a bylaw prohibiting legal grow-ops
for one year as it investigates what municipal bylaw changes need to
be in place to handle marijuana growth.

Uxbridge is being asked to approve a potential marijuana operation -
headed up by Ontario's former health minister George Smitherman along
with a retired deputy police chief and a Markham pharmacist - but
residents there are raising concerns.

The Town of Aurora has not yet received any applications, but is
studying which facilities could be used, and in Stouffville, local
politicians say they want a say in where grow ops can be located after
receiving an application for a large-scale grow-op on rural land on
the Ninth Line.

"There are proper places they can put these things, not in residential
areas," Mayor Wayne Emmerson said. "All that we want is a say where
these things go and public participation."

Municipalities do have a say, according to Paul Calandra, MP for Oak
Ridges-Markham.

"If the town wants to put in a mechanism where they will consult with
the community, then go ahead," he said.

Applications have been pouring in to Health Canada since the new law
was enacted, with predictions of $1.3 billion per year in annual sales.

"We may well have many applications coming forward because there are
probably a lot of people who think they can make their first million,"
Hogg said, "but that doesn't mean they have the qualifications or
credentials or will act in accord with our expectations as a community."

Ward 6 Councillor Godwin Chan also expressed concerns about the
minimum 70-metre setback for a licensed grow-op.

But Carmine Perrelli, in whose ward the Dyma facility would be
located, said town staff deemed the 70-metre setback
appropriate.

A citizens group would be an attempt to try and delay the process, he
said, "and therefore contrary to what the federal government is
telling us we need to do.

"At the end of the day it is council that will make the ultimate
decision, not a citizens group designed to promote fear-mongering in
the community."

Councillors asked staff to address concerns raised and report back
prior to summer recess and may consider the creation of a formal
citizen committee.

- - with files from Sandra Bolan and Brea Bartholet
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt