A city council committee has unanimously approved a plan to give Richmond its first medical marijuana production facility.
Councillors on the planning committee waved through a rezoning bid by medical marijuana firm MediJean, based in Horseshoe Way, next to Richmond RCMP's HQ.
The move by MediJean, under the operating name of 1348 Productions Inc, to become a licensed Health Canada pharmaceutical production plant was approved Tuesday.
MediJean already operates a 25,000-square foot medical marijuana research facility at 11320 Horseshoe Way.
The city placed severe restrictions on medical marijuana production facilities late last year.
The city wanted to get control over an expected rush by companies cashing in on a federal government decision to move medical marijuana production licensing away from homes and onto commercial enterprises.
Coun. Bill McNulty, the city's planning committee chair, said he was very impressed by MediJean's presentation at city hall on Tuesday.
"Their security is unbelievable and I've every confidence in the way they're proposing to do business," said McNulty, adding that, despite speculation that there are a number of other similar applications in the pipeline, he understands MediJean is the only medical marijuana company dealing with the city.
