Plans are moving ahead for medical marijuana production in the North Okanagan’s rural areas.
The Electoral Area Advisory Committee has given second reading to a bylaw that would permit medical marijuana production within the Agricultural Land Reserve and industrial zones.
“We will achieve what the federal government has set out to do, which is to get these facilities out of residences,” said Rick Fairbairn, rural Lumby director.
The original bylaw has been amended to remove all minimum parcel size requirements and outline setback requirements for the industrial zone.
Bob Fleming, EAAC chairperson, says it was necessary to make some changes to the proposed bylaw after a public hearing.
“We had a bunch of information presented from people and the provincial government has changed the property tax regulations,” he said.
There was a concern that marijuana production on industrial land would be taxed under the cheaper agricultural rate, but the provincial government has stated that won’t be the case.
A second public hearing will now be held before EAAC directors consider further approvals.
“I expect that will happen this fall,” said Fleming of the hearing.
