It’s not clear if Delta’s prime agricultural lands will be behind many acres of security fencing when recreational marijuana is legalized.
Delta currently prohibits the production of medical marijuana in all zones, but applications are considered on a case-by-case basis with the goal of keeping them in industrial zones. Delta doesn’t have the ability to impose the same regulation in the ALR, however. Village Farms in East Ladner has partnered with a company to start a massive recreational pot grow operation at the greenhouse. They’ve submitted an application to the feds. Concerned there will be a proliferation of other grow ops on Delta’s farmland, the city wants the ability to restrict them to industrial zones. So far, there’s no indication Delta will be given that power.
Delta council, meanwhile, has given preliminary approval to a comprehensive new zoning bylaw which includes new regulations on marijuana that are to be in place in advance of the federal government legalizing recreational pot.
Anyone wanting to sell cannabis retail would have to apply for a rezoning.
A public hearing on the new zoning bylaw is scheduled for Jan. 30, 2018.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a recent interview with Quebec media was quoted as saying "next summer," but not July 1, will be the date cannabis become legal across the country. The exact date is now unclear.
