Marijuana and ALR Land Use

Ready or not here it comes! Legalization of Marijuana in Canada.

Please understand that I am in no way opposed to the legalization, cultivation or use of marijuana, especially for medical purposes. I’ve read extensively on the subject and am very enthusiastic about the potential benefits of marijuana to treat, what seems to be a large number of ailments, with little or no side effects. It is however, in my opinion, not ok to destroy or maim farmland to cultivate marijuana or any other product or produce. Once farmland is paved over with cement, which is what has been done historically to this point, it is essentially not recoverable. It destroys the land, wreaks havoc on the aquifer and it ends up degrading the environment instead of replenishing it, which natural farming will do. No amount of good from whatever product grown can reverse or compensate for the unnecessary destruction of land that was put aside to ensure a lasting legacy of fertile land to provide food.

Marijuana grows very well, in fact it thrives in the regular old garden soil in the ground. If growers choose to grow marijuana or any other crop on ALR land, I would prefer to that it was regulated so that it had to be grown in the ground. There is an abundance of industrial land available in the Fraser Valley. If growers prefer a concrete floor to grow on, they should use this vast supply of industrial land to do so and I whole heartily support their efforts.

It is important to me that the issues do not get confused. My issue is with ALR land being covered with concrete. Go ahead - grow marijuana, build churches, explore your dreams and ambitions and yes, I personally support farmers and the freedom of religious expression. What I do not support and what I will fight against, is the destruction of our incredible farmland.

Recently the Provincial Government gave permission to local governments to regulate marijuana growth on agricultural land. This allows municipalities to create bylaws that restrict marijuana growers from using farmland to build greenhouses with concrete floors. It does not however, restrict growing marijuana in the ground, whether covered by a greenhouse or not. The law also does not extend past marijuana, therefore growers of other plants still fall under the jurisdiction of the province. This change only effects new facilities, any facility currently in use or under construction will be grand-fathered in under the previous rules.

As a Township of Langley Councilor I would be restricted to dealing with matters that fall under municipal law such, as this. I will however, advocate as a Township of Langley resident, to our Provincial Government to broaden the scope of law for us to have greater control over land use within our ALR reserve lands.