By opening up its industrial areas to medical marijuana growers, the coastal B.C. community of Sechelt is poised to become the first community in Canada cleared for large-scale legal pot farms.
Located two hours northwest of Vancouver, Sechelt first conceived of the change after a would-be producer approached councillors with a proposal to set up shop in a renovated building in the city’s industrial quarter.
John Henderson, the city’s development-minded Mayor, immediately took notice. “We don’t care if it’s a rocket-launching business or a legal medical marijuana growing operation — if somebody approaches us to have some zoning bylaws amended we’ll look at them carefully,” he said.
The proposed zoning change, which was put before a public hearing in January, would allow a medical marijuana grow operation under three conditions: the operation must be strictly up to snuff with local building codes, it cannot gum up neighbouring streets with increased traffic and the facility is forbidden from allowing too much pot smell to waft onto neighbouring properties. Health Canada also requires that if grown outside, the plants not be located near a public playground or school.
The local RCMP have given the plan their full support. “It’s the District of Sechelt that initiated this, but from a policing perspective, when a medical marijuana growing operation is in an industrial area, there are fewer risks in terms of illegal entry and such,” RCMP Sgt. Mike McCarthy told the CBC.
