Pubdate: Thu, 13 Aug 2015
Source: Daily Observer, The (Pembroke, CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 Pembroke Daily Observer
Contact: http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/letters
Website: http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2615
Author: Stephen Uhler
Page: A1

MARIJUANA IN CITY'S FUTURE?

Council Will Alter Zoning Bylaw to Allow Production in Industrial Areas

The production of medicinal marijuana is the future, and Pembroke wants in.

On Tuesday, city council voted unanimously to include medical 
marijuana facilities as a permitted use within industrial zones, as 
listed in its zoning bylaw.

Colleen Sauriol, planning and building department manager, said staff 
was asked to include this use in the zoning bylaw. She said many 
municipalities are adding medical marijuana facilities or medicinal 
product manufacturing facility as a permitted use in their industrial zones.

"They are adding setback requirements from residential or 
institutional uses such as schools and community centres," she said. 
"The city of Ottawa and the town of Caledon have a separation 
distance of 150 metres between a medicinal marijuana facility and a 
lot in an industrial or residential zone category."

Sauriol told councillors anyone wanting to set up such a facility in 
Pembroke would still require a site plan agreement along with Health 
Canada licensing, the requirements and regulations for which are very 
strict and far beyond what the city would require.

"Production is restricted to indoors and storefronts, retail outlets 
and advertisements are prohibited," she said. "There are standards 
for the site such as barriers, intruder detection, secure vault 
storage, filtration of air to prevent odours from escaping and 
enhanced staff clearances."

Sauriol said as of May 2015, there are 18 fully licensed medicinal 
marijuana producers in Canada and seven additional producers licensed 
to cultivate the product. One of these producers, Tweed, is located 
in Smith Falls and is operating out of the former Hershey's chocolate plant.

Coun. Andrew Plummer, who made the request, said this is a rapidly 
growing industry and the city should be prepared to take advantage of 
an opportunity should it present itself. "We need to be on that niche 
list," he said, and to be ready in case someone does think of setting 
up such a facility here. Plummer said he has contacted Tweed and was 
told if the company had known of Pembroke's lower electricity rates, 
Tweed may in fact be operating here.

"If we have the zoning in place, we can take advantage of this new 
industry," he said, and be able to collect much-needed tax revenue.

Mayor Michael LeMay agreed, saying this council's top priority is to 
encourage economic development and attract new businesses and 
investment into the municipality to bolster the tax base.

Coun. Christine Reavie also backed the idea, saying medicinal 
marijuana production is a quickly growing industry and the city 
should be prepared for the possibility it may be developed here one day.

Sauriol said notice of this zoning change will be subject to a public 
meeting, as would any change to the city's zoning bylaw, before it 
could be approved. The time and location of the meeting will be 
advertised soon in the local media and online on the city's website.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom