Pot permeates Pelham
Marijuana odours raising stink...
Following complaints of a marijuana smell emanating around town, Pelham has issued a release letting residents know what they can do in the event they smell the odour.
The release indicates there are currently five federally licensed marijuana growing operations in Pelham, although it does not indicate where those are.
Pelham encourages its residents to contact Health Canada, the town and the local MP Dean Allison if you smell “one of rural Ontario’s newest agricultural odours.”
In addition to telling residents to alert these parties, the release provides a list of things residents should know in regards to this form of agriculture.
Marijuana growing facilities in greenhouses require federal licensing and are regulated by Health Canada. Because of that, these facilities are routinely inspected to ensure they are compliant with government regulations.
Being federally regulated, however, Pelham has no jurisdiction over them when it comes to penalties or regulations.
Pelham does have two relevant zoning bylaws that apply to the use of land and greenhouses, however.
One zoning bylaw stipulates that agricultural use is “use of land, building or structure for the purpose of, amongst other things, horticulture and greenhouses.”
The other stipulates“a greenhouse as a structure used to cultivate or grow floral, vegetable or other horticultural produce in a climatically controlled environment.”
As those exist, the municipality is asking residents to file a bylaw service request in addition to contacting Health Canada and the MP so the complaints can be documented at a municipal level.
To file a bylaw service request, residents can go online and fill out the form found at http://www.pelham. ca/en/how-might-I/resources/ Fire-and-By-Law/Images/By-lawServices-Request-Form.pdf. Complaints to Health Canada can be directed to the Office of Medical Cannabis at omc-bcm@hc.sc. gc.ca or by calling 1-866-3377705. MP Dean Allison can be reached via email at info@deanallison.ca for those interested in sending their concerns to him.
More information about licensed facilities and the regulations they must follow are available at https://www.canada.ca/en/ health-canada.