We need food more than cannabis

Do we have a say?

Lately we are reading or hearing on the news about cannabis. This raises questions as we transition from an illegal product to a legal one.

Can these concerns be addressed and acted on before damage has been done? Do the government and municipalities have a clear idea what capacity is required for cannabis production? Where is it best grown? Are there tight controls to ensure only so many production facilities are built and restricting the number of plants?

We don’t want an abundance of structures built on prime agricultural land sitting empty and the ground no longer viable for food/fodder production. What happens to the water table in the area and surrounding farmland when these large structures are placed? What about chemical runoff?

The agriculture minister has formed a review committee to gather information about land in the Agricultural Land Reserve and its uses. It might be too late to stop any damage that has already begun.

The Central Saanich mayor has asked for a six-month moratorium to look at whether the use of ALR lands is appropriate for large production facilities.

These are not for food, but cannabis. This product might not interest the majority of Canadians. Why should a minority group use prime agricultural land when the majority want it sustained for food security?

Now is the time for us all to voice our concerns. Save prime agricultural land for future generations. We can survive without cannabis, but not without food.

Write to Agriculture Minister Lana Popham and MLA Adam Olsen.

Shelagh Russell Saanichton