Kelowna Revamps Zoning To Prepare For Rush Of Marijuana Grow-Op Applications

Jacob Redmond

Well-Known Member
Kelowna is tweaking one of its zoning bylaws to prepare for an onslaught of applications for legal medical marijuana grow-ops.

Property officer Ryan Smith says the city has no operators yet, but 15 producers have made requests to the city.

A council meeting heard on Monday the prospective business owners would still have to go through Health Canada before the city can consider their applications.

The city has already implemented Bylaw 8000, which was put in place anticipating operators would want to set up growing facilities because medical marijuana could be lucrative.

Council passed the first reading of an amended bylaw unanimously, which adds agricultural land to the list of acceptable zones.

The current bylaw stipulates growing operations must be on properties located in one of four industrial zones – business industrial, general industrial, heavy industrial and central industrial.

It also provides a definition of a medical marijuana production facility, which reads: "for the producing, processing, selling, providing, shipping, delivering and destroying of marijuana and must be licenced under the Health Canada Marijuana for Medical Purposed Regulations."

The amended bylaw also recognizes that analytical testing conducted at medical marijuana operations may be done within their own facility, at a lab adjacent to such a facility, or in a centralized lab that a number of facilities share.

Citizens have been encouraged to provide any input on the bylaw amendments at a public hearing next month. If council is satisfied that residents are in favour of the changes, it will proceed to a second and third reading before a final vote for adoption.

Kelowna is already known for lucrative, legal cash crops including apples, cherries and grapes for wine.

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News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Kelowna revamps zoning to preapare for rush of marijuana grow-op applications
Author: Steve Macnaull
Contact: citydesk@thestarphoenix.com
Photo Credit: Kindman Dispensary
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