The process of legalizing marijuana continues to leave its mark in Richmond.
The City of Richmond is actively dealing with the likes of an illegal dispensary, dangerous grow operations and, now, the first application to develop farmland into a licensed facility for regulated plants.
For a number of reasons, legalization is generally opposed by Richmond city council and there have already been numerous instances of controversy in the city, surrounding the process.
The latest issue has been raised by the city’s fire department.
This month, the Richmond Fire Electrical Fire Safety Inspection Team uncovered safety hazards at two Bridgeport Road properties that were illegally growing medical marijuana.
According to the City of Richmond, subsequent joint inspections by the Richmond RCMP, BC Hydro Security and bylaw officers revealed many significant building alterations, including: moved and altered natural gas lines; electrical alterations; plumbing alterations; and holes in fire separations.
“Richmond-Fire Rescue will follow-up with issuing Fire Violation Reports and contacting all appropriate work groups within the city and partner agencies for continuous follow up. Investigations and subsequent actions by RCMP and other agencies are ongoing,” stated a news release.
Earlier this year, the city shut down an illegal recreational marijuana dispensary near city hall, several times. In a controversial move, council wants to now limit such businesses regardless of legalization.
Meanwhile, according to city spokesperson Ted Townsend, there are several permit applications for medical production facilities in Richmond.
One facility, MediJean, was granted a permit in 2016, in an industrial area. But that company failed to obtain a medical growing license from Health Canada.
Now, another building permit application on No. 6 Road has been granted a third reading by council, but the company (8572534 Canada Ltd.) is awaiting a growing license from Health Canada.
Meanwhile, another application has been processed by staff. Mallen Gowing Berzins Architecture Inc. has applied to build a growing facility on farmland, at Riverside Stables, 13751 Garden City Road.
Coun. Harold Steves opposes growing marijuana on farmland — which is his main stated reason why he joined in council’s opposition to the current legalization framework.
Coun. Chak Au has led a group of citizens to oppose it based on grounds that they believe the drug will end up in the hands of children.
