With recreational marijuana expected to be legalized by July 2018, the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake is taking steps to allow marijuana production facilities in the village鈥檚 heavy industrial zones.
READ MORE: Marijuana rules will be 鈥榓 work in progress鈥�
In order to allow for their development, the village鈥檚 Official Community Plan (OCP) and zoning bylaws must be amended.
鈥淢edical marijuana is currently allowed [for consumption], you can purchase a license for it, we just don鈥檛 accept that medical marijuana can be produced within village boundaries,鈥� explained Sheryl Worthing, Chief Administrative Officer for the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake.
鈥淩ight now the recommendation is just to add medical marijuana [to OCP and zoning bylaws] and not have any language around recreational use until we see what the actual legislation is going to look like,鈥� she added.
Council has directed staff to bring back for first and second reading an amendment to the OCP bylaw 970, 2017 and the zoning bylaw 880, 2008. That鈥檚 just the first step before these bylaws can be amended.
The next step will be a consultation in the form of written letters requesting feedback on the proposed amendment to the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako Area B, Lake Babine Nation, 亚洲天堂 Lake Band, School District 91 (Nechako Lakes) and the RCMP.
鈥淭his [amendment] is a long process,鈥� explained Worthing. 鈥淭he third part of that is when we鈥檙e doing a zoning amendment, and for that, a public hearing is required.鈥�
The public hearing has been set for March 20, 2018 in the village chamber at 7 p.m. The public hearing is an opportunity for input by community members who believe that their interest in property is affected by the proposed amendment.
After the public hearing, council will be able to adopt the amended bylaw.
According to a village staff report, the federal government has indicated that it will respect local government zoning when determining whether to issue production licenses. In order for the village to regulate medicinal marijuana production operations, zoning regulations must be enacted promptly, as licenses are already being issued.
Manufacturers will have to apply to Health Canada for a production license. The applicant has to provide information that allows Health Canada to assess whether the applicant has certain key measures in place.
Under the new regulations, production will take place indoors by large scale commercial producers. The product will be shipped to users directly from the producer, acquired from pharmacies or provided by authorized care practitioners or hospitals.
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