Regional District Moves Forward with Medical Marijuana Bylaw
Prince George, B.C. – The Regional District of Fraser Fort George has approved third reading to a medical marihuana processing bylaw. It is considered a “stop gap” and changes could be made down the road as the medical marihuana licencing system is changing in less than 2 weeks
The Board has also agreed to set up a select committee that would look at future considerations on this issue.
The bylaw calls for such facilities to be on properties no smaller than 640 acres (259 hectares) with a 60 meter (200 feet) setback from a side, and rear property lines and a further 30 meter (100 feet) set back from the front.
These properties would be zoned M5 and under that description, there are only a handful of properties in the Regional District that would qualify, and none are adjacent to residential subdivisions, although they are close to rural residences.
Smaller properties applying to develop such a facility would have to come before the Regional District for a rezoning.
Director Andru McCracken of Valemount doesn’t agree with the bylaw “This Board is struggling with the Not In My Back Yard syndrome”. He said the fears of criminal activity are being overblown and the Regional Board should be promoting economic development. “I support the growing of this product. Are we pretending there are no grow ops in the valley? I know they are there, they exist.”
Director Warren Wilson supported Director McCracken’s position. “We have to start thinking about medical marihuana differently.” He says it is an agricultural product and should not be compared to the illegal grow ops that were in basements and vacant properties. “We are putting too many restrictions and making it too difficult for small business people to get started here.”
Director Terry Burgess wanted to see all applications for this land use go to a public hearing, something that would not be required if the property is 640 acres or is already zoned as M5.
Director Kevin Dunphy doesn’t agree. “I don’t think we should be putting in a lot of barriers to make it difficult for people to have this kind of production. It is a business, it is an industry, and yet, because of our preconceived ideas, we are looking for ways to set up barriers.” He says the medical marihuana production facilities will be heavily regulated and should be welcomed as an opportunity for job creation.
Saying he supports Medical Marihuana Director Murry Krause says the reality is, organized crime was involved in the past, but what is important now is to find out how to move forward to manage the process ‘We’ve got to be careful, and the question I have is, really, how many requests are we going to get?”
But time is running out to develop a new bylaw, and something has to be in place when the rules for medical marihuana licencing change on April 1st. Director Andru McCracken would like to see each area within the Regional District have its own rules on this matter, and that is something the select committee may examine.
Comments
Seems to be restrictions imposed upon folks so they don’t to rich too fast. Gotta please everyone no matter what. Can’t be done, I say. Besides, we’ll find a way around it. Right, folks? Organized crime? Is that a euphemism for three levels of government? say it ain’t so, Murry.
…don’t GET too rich too… Faulty keyboard.
“These properties would be zoned M5 and under that description, there are only a handful of properties in the Regional District that would qualify”
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Are any of these properties owned by any of the decision makes in this case?
640 acres? That’s ridiculous. The same restrictions should be put in place for any business that produces the other drug known as “alcohol” if all is to be fair.
“Director Murry Krause says the reality is, organized crime was involved in the past, but what is important now is to find out how to move forward to manage the process”
Is that not the case with the repeal of prohibition against alcohol.
After several years, prohibition became a failure in North America and elsewhere, as bootlegging (rum-running) became widespread and organized crime took control of the distribution of alcohol. Distilleries and breweries in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean flourished as their products were either consumed by visiting Americans or illegally exported to the United States. Chicago became notorious as a haven for prohibition dodgers during the time known as the Roaring Twenties. Prohibition generally came to an end in the late 1920s or early 1930s in most of North America and Europe, although a few locations continued prohibition for many more years.
Sound familiar?
This is silly. Marijuana doesn’t have cooties.
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