Yet another company is looking at setting up shop in Olds to produce medical marijuana.
But that has councillors concerned that too many such companies may be coming into town, using up too much commerical/industrial land.
Currently at least five companies have expressed interest in getting into the cannabis (marijuana) production business in Olds.
Sinclair Cultivations is currently in negotiations with the owner of the property to purchase land in order to develop another medical marijuana facility.
In order to do so, the land in question must be redesignated Direct Control 7, thereby allowing medical marijuana to be produced. Council passed a bylaw to make that change.
However, some councillors voiced concerns over the potential addition of another cannabis-related facility in Olds because they don’t want to use all of the available industrial land exclusively for cannabis.
“We’re making more room for more medical cannabis facilities and yet we still don't know from the provincial government whether or not we're getting taxes and we are using up all of our industrial land; we don't have very much left, is my understanding,” said Coun. Mary Anne Overwater.
In response, chief administrative officer Michael Merritt said the town has corresponded with the provincial government to assess the taxation situation.
Coun. Mary Jane Harper agreed with Overwater.
“We need to take a look at how much of our industrial property is being taken up by cannabis operations and I think it's just good business for the town to have a strong mix of all types of industrial businesses,” she said.
“We’re talking about higher level discussions around taxes, which is entirely valid, but we keep having these discussions every single time,” Coun. Wade Bearchell said.
“We need to talk about these in another time exclusive to when applications come up, because it’s not fair to the citizens and it’s not fair to the applicant.”
Bearchell suggested putting a moratorium on adding new cannabis facilities until the government makes a decision about taxes.
Mayor Michael Muyzchka offered a different perspective on the discussion.
He said if the effort to lobby the province to obtain tax revenue from marijuana production firms doesn't work, "then I’m fully in support of making the change ourselves and doing everything we can within the legal limits.
“As long as we’re not tapping out our entire inventory of industrial land I’m still in support of these changes.”
