Hastings County wants Health Canada to change the way it hands out licences to pot growers.
At a virtual meeting of Hastings County Council on Thursday, Tweed Mayor Jo-Anne Albert said Health Canada gave a licence to a cannabis operation on Camp Road in her municipality, right next to a home.
The company has four licences for 400 plants each.
Albert emphasized Health Canada should check with the municipalities first before issuing the licences.
Commenting on the present system she noted, “It’s the cart before the horse.”
She added, “There’s a house, closer than my back door here to my office where I am, with a little one-year-old. Of course, they’re upset. And they (pot growers) have 400 plants put in the ground, which our by-law says must be indoors. We turned it down, and they went ahead anyway.”
Tweed Mayor Jo-Anne Albert (File photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Referring to Health Canada, Albert continued, “They’re telling them (cannabis growers), yes, you can have these four licences, but they aren’t zoned for it. And they can’t meet the zoning.”
Albert said the issue is now before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, which will cost the municipality money.
Warden Rick Phillips says his municipality, the Township of Tyendinaga, has a similar issue with a number of cannabis growers. One, a numbered company, is at the intersection of Enright and Reid roads.
Phillips continued, “I also understand that according to the stock market, marijuana is way down and there’s not a sale for marijuana so I’m wondering where my marijuana is going in my township. They get supposedly licences from Health Canada.
“They’re not talking with us. We’ve tried that option already with our former MP. Haven’t discussed it yet with our current MP.”
Albert suggested a letter be sent to Health Canada asking for a change in policy.
Planning Director Justin Harrow commented, “It certainly poses some challenges. Right now we’re looking at how that process is going on in other municipalities. I’m sure we’re not the only ones facing these issues. Before we move forward with anything else, perhaps a letter to Health Canada to ask them to consult with us first.”
County Council decided to ask for a staff report in August, recommending what steps to take with Health Canada.
