Pubdate: Thu, 04 Dec 2014
Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Nanaimo Daily News
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608
Author: Spencer Anderson
Page :A1

DISTRICT WANTS CLARITY FROM PROVINCE ON REGULATING POT GROWERS

The Regional District of Nanaimo is seeking direction from the
province on steps it can take to regulate medical marijuana production
facilities through local bylaws.

Directors for RDN also voted last week to write to Health Canada - the
federal department in charge of regulating the medicinal substance -
requesting a "thorough" evaluation of traffic, security, water
contamination and wastewater issues resulting from the construction of
medical marijuana production centres.

The vote came amidst growing frustrations among elected officials and
members of the public after learning that two such facilities were
proposed within the RDN by Vancouver-based producer Wildflower
Marijuana Inc. - one in Nanoose next to a subdivision and another
reportedly in the Yellow Point area. A third, separate licence
application has been made for a facility in the Deep Bay-Bowser area
by a Vancouver Island group.

Wildflower has accused RDN board chairman Joe Stanhope of defaming the
company after the RDN board approved sending a letter Stanhope had
written on Sept. 12 letter to Health Canada opposing one of the
medical marijuana facilities.

Residents in the RDN have complained about the proposed facilities,
but the regional body has consistently replied that it does not have
legal authority to act on the complaints.

A staff report received by the RDN board laid out the
predicament.

"In British Columbia the ability of local governments to address
issues related to the siting of medical marihuana production
facilities within their communities is limited on ALR land given that
the use has been determined by the province to constitute a 'farm use'
in the ALR," it said. "Local governments have limited authority to
regulate and cannot prohibit farm uses on ALR land."

The province has prepared draft criteria for local governments to
draft bylaws regulating medical marijuana production.
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MAP posted-by: Matt