First medical marijuana grow op application in Kamloops heads to public hearing

KAMLOOPS – Residents will have a say in whether a medical marijuana grow operation is approved in Gateway Park at the east end of the city.

While there have been previous inquiries this is the first formal application for a grow op in Kamloops, development and engineering services director Marvin Kwiatkowski told city council today, Sept. 29.

The application is to rezone the property at 8170 Dallas Dr., which is currently vacant. Medical marijuana grow operations are only permitted in heavy industrial areasof the city and this property is zoned as industrial.

The city has a list of 11 requirements before rezoning for a grow operation can be considered. These requirements include proper ventilation and filtration systems and a location which is at least 150 metres from a residential zone, daycare facility, playground, community centre, school, public park, or anyplace frequented by people under 18 years old.

The building is currently owned by Augustus Marks who plans to rent it to potential proprietor Dr. Richard Brownlee, who is a Kamloops neurosurgeon and director of the Welcome Back Pain Management and Upright MRI Centre.

The city says the applicant is in the process of acquiring a permit from the federal government to operate a legal medical marihuana grow operation. It is currently in the security clearance stage and will require various federal approvals prior to receiving a licence from Health Canada.

City staff have said it is possible for the city to approve the rezoning but Health Canada to not give the business a license.

The matter will go to public hearing as early as Oct. 20.

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