Wednesday March 5, 2014 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST Included
Hip hop happening Educational rappers Kia Kadiri and Ndidi Cascade from the group, Metaphor, share the stage with students Sam Hall and Kayden Stephen during a performance Monday at Hillcrest Elementary School. The group will be touring Shuswap schools for the next two weeks. James murray/obServer
City grapples with medical marijuana Zoning: Council looks at where potential commercial grow operations should be located. By martha Wickett obServer STAFF
In the wake of new regulations introduced by Health canada, Salmon Arm council must ponder where best to put medicinal marijuana grow operations. effective April 1, the new ‘Marijuana for Medical Purposes regulations’ will consolidate existing grow operations in private residences into larger, secured facilities, with the stated intent of making them easier to regulate and monitor by federal agencies. Kevin Pearson, the city’s director of development services, explained to the city’s Monday meeting of its development and planning services committee that if a company has a proposal for a
grow op, it will go to the municipal government to see if zoning bylaws are correct. In Salmon Arm, he said, such a use seems to fit with allowed uses in industrial and agricultural zones, just as growing facilities for hot-house tomatoes would. Alternatively, a new zone could be created. rcMP Staff Sgt. Kevin Keane told council the biggest concern of police is safety, particularly of neighbouring residents. “There’s a significant amount of marijuana grow ripoffs… the last one a couple of weeks ago. Someone came to rip off a legalized marijuana grow place, they got the wrong location and somebody got shot. Those are my concerns.” Keane said he would favour the
placement of medicinal marijuana Four hundred licences are ex- has noticed is the lack of any degrow ops in industrial areas over pected to be issued in canada, 100 tail whatsoever with enquiries and agricultural ones. of those in b.c. However, it’s not proposals. To date, most enquiries “My concern is, one farm have been very secretive in house looks like another farm nature with no location, comhouse… They can get the wrong pany profiles or operational driveway.” details provided,” states a staff Pearson reported that the city report. “equally, Health canhas already had an application. ada has not been proactive in In January, planning staff, fire advising the city which, if any, Marg Kentel department personnel and police proposals are under their re“officially acknowledged an apCity CounCillor view within our municipality.” plication being forwarded to research of other commuHealth canada for a farm site in nities showed that Kamloops, the Salmon river valley,” states I know what we’re going to hear. NoKelowna and the regional a planning staff report. “That body’s going to want it. I guess that’s district of north okanagan faproposal appeared to be small in what we get paid the big dollars for. vour bylaws to allow producscale involving no new buildings tion within industrial zones and seemed to meet the definibecause of safety concerns. tion of agriculture and intensive known how many are destined for In contrast, Mission and Maple agriculture permitted in the A-1 the Shuswap. (agriculture) zone.” “one of the challenges staff See rCmP on page A2
This week It’s time to spring forward this weekend. Set your clock ahead one hour before going to bed Saturday night. The Salmon Arm Jewels begin play at the BC High School Provincials. See A13 for more.
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............... A8 Sports................A13-A17 Arts & Events ... A18-A21 Time Out................... A22 Vol. 107, No. 10, 40 pages