Producers, residents face-off on cannabis production controls

Residents and growers participated in a public meeting to hear community input on proposed changes to Clearview Township’s zoning bylaw Monday as it relates to cannabis production and cultivation facilities.
In addition to many written submissions, more than one dozen people waited their turn to speak during a two-hour online public meeting Monday when director of community services Mara Burton presented her recommendations. The meeting is part of an investigative process following the passing of an interim control bylaw in October to prohibit the establishment of new cannabis operations for one year while staff take a closer look at the controversial agricultural use. Residents called for a moratorium on cannabis production fearing the crop would spread throughout the township, and unregulated, would result in more facilities like Peace Naturals, which has caused conflict with neighbours who now find themselves living next to what has been developed as a factory, not a farm.
It is proposed that Clearview’s existing producers Peace Naturals and AgriFarm be zoned to a new “agriculturally related industrial zone” to allow the municipality to specifically recognize these existing businesses and require any new cannabis production facilities to undertake a zoning amendment.
Other proposed changes to the zoning bylaw relate to lot coverage and frontage and separation distances, controls on lighting and odour. The proposal excludes hoop houses but allows greenhouses, with controls.
Kevin Elwood, one of the residents to initially request a moratorium on new cannabis production, said he believes there is a public will to very tightly regulate cannabis production.
“I am not able to recognize the urgency in some of the recommendations to facilitate the cannabis industry and production in Clearview,” he said…“I think we should be taking a very cautious approach to this bylaw, use sound land use planning to prevent any community turmoil.”
Most speakers supported strict controls and the addition of fines to seriously restrict the industry, saying no one wants to live next to a large scale cannabis producer.
Mary Laszlo, a neighbour to Peace Naturals called the facility a “behemoth” that has covered good farmland, and is the cause of constant noise, odour and traffic.
“It has become as industrialized as Toronto with greedy corporations coming in and taking advantage of the openness and naiveté of the township and its leaders,” she said. “We can’t stop progress, I agree, but it needs to be managed in a sensitive, considerate way that will benefit the people of the township and not the corporations that see profits before all.”
Ilya Strashun said the bylaw would put severe constraints on anyone trying to enter the cannabis production sector and prohibit the ability to create sustainable businesses, allowing only the large-scale producers to flourish while the micro cultivators and producers are set up to fail.
“There is no evidence that our operations have done any harm or damage to the reputation of Clearview Township in any way. Quite the contrary, Creemore today has become known as the premier and top-of-class example of what a cannabis community can contribute to the local economy,” said Strashun referencing revenue and employment.
“This would be a huge missed opportunity for the township in bringing much needed new revenue sources, providing education, and promoting safe and knowledgeable consumption while helping to eliminate the illicit drug market.”
Producer Peter Miller, of AgriFarm at Cashtown Corners, equates cannabis to firearms when it comes to regulations.
“No matter how strict we make the rules, we’re not going to eradicate criminal behaviour through regulation. There has to be a more sensible and practical approach to public safety than just overly regulating and penalizing folks engaging in safe and legal behaviour,” said Miller. “Most proposed changes are cumbersome and impractical. We should apply consistent standards across all forms of legal agriculture from cash cropping to livestock operations.”
He said, contrary to public fears, cannabis supply and demand does not lend itself to Clearview being overrun by producers.
“It’s a low margin business dominated by a few multi-billion dollar public companies… The greater risk is losing the positive economic benefits of the small handful of legal operators in the township and the future benefits of others like them over the long term.”
Burton said the challenge is to develop provisions that will allow producers to produce and to reasonably protect their neighbours from nuisance effects. Staff will review public comments before bringing a recommendation back to council for final approval.