Skip to content

Revelstoke council gives go ahead for medical marijuana bylaw

The City of Revelstoke has received five inquiries from people interested in building a medical marijuana production facility in town.
14-0389-LUM-DP-GUDEIT-TRUE_LEAF-Mun_Council_rpt.pdf
This image shows the proposed design for a medical marijuana facility in Lumby

The City of Revelstoke has received five inquiries from people interested in building a medical marijuana production facility in town.

Dean Strachan told Revelstoke council this news in response to questions relating to a new bylaw that would regulate where licensed medical marijuana facilities could be built in Revelstoke.

According to the proposed bylaw, such facilities would be restricted to light industrial zones in the City of Revelstoke.

“Because the facilities are becoming quite complex and quite secure, planning staff feels its better to have them in an industrial area," said Strachan.

The bylaw is in response to Health Canada regulations that put big restrictions on medical marijuana production. The regulations went into effect April 1, 2014.

Anyone interested in building a medical marijuana facility would have to be licensed by Health Canada. They would also need a development permit and building permit from the City of Revelstoke.

There would be no public hearing if an application came to the city, said Strachan. “All that is required is they meet the city bylaws for a permit to be issued."

Strachan said the bylaw was spurred by a facility being built in Lumby, B.C. True Leaf Medicine is a publicly listed company that is currently waiting Health Canada approval to begin medical marijuana production. The company also intends on producing pet food using the hemp byproduct from marijuana production. It was started by Darcy Bomford, the founder of a Vernon-based pet food company. Former B.C. Premier Mike Harcourt is the company's Chairman.