Will Delta be able to block any more cannabis operations from setting up shop on farmland?
That’s the multi-million-dollar question when it comes to the lucrative cash crop as the province continues to grapple with the issue of marijuana and the Agricultural Land Reserve.
“I don’t think we’re done with it. It’s a fast-moving file and the landscape of cannabis is ever changing right now,” Agriculture Minister Lana Popham told the Optimist last week.
Ahead of the federal government’s legalization of recreational cannabis this fall, the province enacted regulations so local governments would be able to prohibit cannabis production in the ALR within their communities, however, they can’t prohibit them outright if certain conditions are followed.
The regulatory change gives authority to local governments to “prohibit cement-based, industrial-style, cannabis-production bunkers on ALR land in their communities,” but also stipulates that cannabis production cannot be prohibited if grown lawfully in an open field, a structure that has a soil base, a structure that was either fully constructed or under construction prior to July 13 or in an existing licensed operation.
The regulatory change pertains only to land in the ALR. Local governments can regulate or prohibit cannabis production on lands outside the farm zone.
Popham said the regulations were aimed at getting a handle on the situation, but pointed out she personally can’t be part of the policy discussions due to a perceived conflict of interest because her fiancé is a medical practitioner who prescribes cannabis.
However, she said, “It’s safe to say this file is ever changing and I can’t imagine that we wouldn’t make changes or policy around what’s happening because it is a big file. We just wanted to give local governments control while we saw where things were landing with the federal regulations. It’s a constant assessment.”
Several greenhouses in Delta have already converted to cannabis.
A recent Delta council report notes if applications are made for lands within the ALR, staff do not have the ability to deny building permit or business licence issuance to prohibit those facilities if all licensing requirements are met.
As far as new operations that adhere the new provincial requirements, the report notes, “Staff are concerned that following October 17, 2018, this approach may encourage the establishment of cannabis production in the ALR in the form of outdoor and low-security operations in order to be considered a farm use.”
