More than 100 residents and officials attended a Feb. 4 open house at the Cremona community centre to discuss a medical marijuana growing facility being proposed for the area.
All Mountain View County (MVC) councillors were present other than Reeve Bruce Beattie. Two Releaf Inc. officials and Todd Aasen from Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Develeopment (AESRD) were also there to answer questions.
Releaf Inc. is proposing the construction of a greenhouse facility north of Cremona where medical marijuana would be grown under Health Canada licence.
Many of those in attendance voiced concerns about not being notified of the project prior to the county granting a development permit for a greenhouse at the site.
One resident asked why the awarding of the development permit was not posted in the newspaper. In reply, Coun. Al Kemmere said there is no requirement to notify the public when greenhouse permits are issued.
Shirley Madge, manager of development for MVC, presented proposed changes to the land use bylaw, which would designate any future marijuana production facility differently than other greenhouses ñ a distinction that has not been required in the past.
The current Land Use Bylaw 11/11 (Section 2.5), which the Releaf operation is designated under, states: "Horticultural use means an agricultural operation concerned with intensively cultivated plants produced on site and are either used for food, for medicinal, environmental, aesthetic purposes or sold.î
Because the facility fell under Section 2.5, and because it had met all requirements, it was exempted from being posted publicly, in accordance with the bylaw, she added.
The proposed changes to the bylaw would see another definition added: "Horticultural use, medicinal, means the production of intensively cultivated plants for physician-prescribed forms of medicinal or therapeutic benefit.î
Such facilities would be required to be located in industrial or commercial zones if passed by county council, and would be subject to taxes that the Releaf operation will be exempted from.
The issue of medical marijuana growing facilities is a relatively new one, as Health Canada has started licensing companies to grow it, telling prescribed patients that they cannot grow it in their homes, as was done in the past, noted Kemmere.
One resident asked what the facility's effect on local aquifers will be. In response AESRD's Todd Aasen explained that Releaf will not be using wells, but rather will be collecting surface water runoff, and that the company has been licensed for a certain amount, which will be stored in an underground storage tank.
He added the water used in the facility ñ which will employ hydroponic systems ñ will be collected and disposed of at wastewater facilities.
Another resident asked what the smell would be like for surrounding residents, to which Elise Coppens, public relations manager for Releaf, said the greenhouses will use air scrubbers, and that "the air coming out will likely be cleaner than when it went in.î
Security concerns were another issue raised at the meeting. In response Dale Lesack, operations manager for Releaf, said the facility will be a low-profile building with no signage and neutral colours.
The building will also be enclosed with a security fence and employ 24-hour surveillance, with at least one staff member being on site at all times, he said.
Coppens elaborated on this, saying with medical-grade marijuana, the combination of organic compounds in the product will be different than what illicit users seek for their consumption, so informed thieves would not want the products anyway.
Earlier in the meeting, she also revealed that there will be anywhere from 10 to 20 local people employed at the facility, adding that the proximity to Olds College will allow the company to employ horticulture students in their chosen trade.
One resident asked if the company could talk to students in the area about the difference between street-grade and medical-grade marijuana.
Coppens said she "completely supports that idea,î and "we would love to commit to that, and I think that's a wonderful suggestion.î
Kemmere told the Gazette during an interview following the meeting, that although not all of the residents left completely pleased, because they couldn't stop the project, he thinks it was worthwhile.
"I think they left a lot more informed, and that was one of our intents, is to make sure they got the information from the county's perspective so they could understand what's taken place and where we're going from there,î said Kemmere.
"I believe people are particularly concerned with water, and that was addressed by Alberta Environment (officials), and the other is security.î
They will be leery until they see the security in place, he added, noting that it won't be a greenhouse, rather a covered building that will look just like other buildings in the area.
