Pubdate: Thu, 14 Aug 2014
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 The Windsor Star
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: Dave Battagello
Page: A3

TECUMSEH BACKS MARIJUANA BID

Town approves rezoning for pot production

TECUMSEH - Tecumseh is hoping production of medical marijuana proves
to be a growth industry for the town.

Council on Tuesday night approved rezoning for two more properties to
allow for manufacturing of the product.

The properties are located in the 5300 block of Walker Road and 5100
block of Halford Drive - and they join a third property within the
town on Blackacre Drive, which was also recently rezoned for the same
purpose.

Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara indicated the rezoning is only the first
step in a bid to create medical marijuana facilities and potentially
create up to 80 jobs, should all three be able to secure approvals
from the federal government and Health Canada.

"We look at it as just another industry," he said. "The federal
government is going in this direction to have better and tighter
controls (on medical marijuana) so people don't try to grow their own.

"They still have a mountain to climb to get a licence. The zoning
doesn't guarantee a license.

"Out of three you may get three, one or none of them."

Both police and fire service agencies in Tecumseh signed off with no
concerns, McNamara said.

Security for the marijuana - if approved in Tecumseh - will be
supervised by RCMP, the mayor said.

"We don't have any real negatives," McNamara said.

"The biggest thing is to overcome the stigma, but more and more
Canadians are dependent on medical marijuana.

"We look at it as another pharmaceutical company and it is highly 
regulated."

McNamara guessed it could take up to a year before the application
process is completed and the town will learn whether those applying to
produce medical marijuana in Tecumseh receive the necessary federal
approvals. "It is a job creator," he said. "And these would be
highly-skilled and well-paid jobs."
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MAP posted-by: Matt