Medical Marijuana facilities set for West Hwy #1 Industrial Park

Times Contributor     

 

There was a strange blend of decision making going on in Wheatland Council on April 8, after the public meeting closed and councillors discussed the land-use bylaw pertaining to medical marijuana facility applications within Wheatland County. 

First reading on the bylaw was passed on March 11.

There were no objections submitted against the bylaw at the public hearing.

Some council members were against the use of marijuana, but voted for the requirements laid out by the federal government and the land-use bylaw, while others supported medical marijuana production, but voted against limiting them to the Hwy #1 Industrial Park. 

The land-use bylaw determined the growth and production of medical marijuana would not fall under agriculture, nursery, or greenhouse designations in Wheatland County, but would be considered under a designation of its own and adhere to the federal government requirements and standards. 

“If you think it is an agricultural product, you are kidding yourself,” said Councillor Ben Armstrong. “It is a drug that is out there destroying our population. If it has to be here, then it is better to have more restrictions than less.”

The production facilities would be required to locate within the West Hwy #1 Industrial Park and submit environmental, water and waste water plans, traffic impact studies, and waste management and storm water management reports with application, similar to any commercial or industrial application. The lots would be required to be placed among the industrial general areas of the industrial park. The bylaw would require a review of the business permit every three to five years, which staff said would allow a re-examination of the business for any problems that occurred in that time frame.

Danny Thiessen spoke up in the public hearing and said anyone investing in the business would not gamble millions of dollars on a bet that their permit would be renewed in three years. He said it was a smart move to locate the facility in the industrial area for safety reasons, but questioned if other businesses in the industrial park would be notified, and wondered if any safety provisions would be made for adjacent businesses. 

“I have a problem with it being restricted to one place. The more restrictive we are, the more challenges we will see and it will cost the county money. If we put up enough roadblocks, no-one will apply,” said Alice Booth. “If Bauer came in and wanted to set up pharmaceutical production, would we do this for them as well? I think we are being too restrictive.”

“We aren’t putting up roadblocks,” said Chief Administrative Officer Alan Parkin. “This is based on sound planning. There is good highway access and we have consulted with the RCMP and other municipalities in this matter.”

He said if something was put in place, there are controls and parameters that council could work under. There have been three interested parties approach the county and Parkin said he would like to give them an answer, but couldn’t proceed unless something was put in place.

There are several challenges to the new medical marijuana laws in other provinces that might overturn the requirement of users to buy from legal production facilities, rather than growing it for themselves. There was debate whether this would impact the number of production facilities looking for locations and change the government’s approach to the product. There is a public push from some sectors to legalize all marijuana use.

“We can’t predict the future with these facilities,” said Kim Sandbeck, Development Officer. “It may become legal and may be a store front with lots of traffic, who knows what will happen.”

Council voted five to two to accept the second and third reading of the bylaw, with Alice Booth and Brenda Knight registering their votes opposed to the bylaw, but not the production of medical marijuana.