Skip to content

Medical marijuana regs spur local bylaw changes

Sicamous' hearing for proposed zoning changes tonight, March 26.
24227sicamousEVNgrowopcol
Federal medicinal marijuana regulation changes aim to eliminate small

District of Sicamous staff have proposed zoning bylaw amendments to accommodate the federal government’s changing regulations for medical marijuana production.

The new Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations come into effect April 1, eliminating existing licensed grow operations in private residences, in favour of larger, secured facilities, with the intent of making them easier for federal agencies to regulate and monitor.

Current licensed producers were required to dispose of their product by April 1. A federal court judge, however, has granted a temporary injunction allowing them to continue to grow medical marijuana (See Marijuana growers get reprieve on pg. 6).

Meanwhile, local governments across the country, including Sicamous, have been re-writing or creating their own bylaws in preparation for the changing regulations and subsequent applications that may follow.

“As a district, it’s not a matter of whether we’re for it or against it, it’s happening,” said Sicamous Mayor Darrell Trouton. “It’s going to happen in our district – there was an application brought forward, and we need to get our bylaws set around it.”

District staff are recommending that marijuana production be restricted to lands zoned General Industrial, and Large Holdings if within the Agricultural Land Reserve. In addition, grow operations must meet restrictions for emissions of odour, heat and ground vibration, noise, electrical interference or any other potential health and/or safety hazard.

Minimum setbacks of 30 metres are for operations on land zoned Large Holdings, unless they are adjacent to residential or public properties such as schools or parks, or businesses, in which case a 60-metre setback is required.

A public hearing on the proposed zoning changes will be held on March 26 at 5 p.m. in council chambers.

 



Lachlan Labere

About the Author: Lachlan Labere

Editor of the Salmon Arm Observer, Shuswap Market, and Eagle Valley News. I'm always looking for new and exciting ways to keep our readers informed and engaged.
Read more