Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Concerned Whonnock Residents

An organized protest has been planned for Friday, May 22, 2015 at 12 pm against the licensing of an industrial scale (97,000 sq. ft. greenhouse, plus a 16,000 sq.ft. production/ storage building) cannabis grow operation in Maple Ridge, proposed for 9860 272nd Street in the community of Whonnock, Maple Ridge.
The residents of Whonnock do not object to legal medicinal marihuana grow operations but feel strongly that this is the wrong site for such an operation and are requesting that Health Canada denies this application. The residents feel they haven’t had a voice in the licensing process and all levels of government are ignoring the outcries of the community.
The Federal Government is responsible for licensing the medical marijuana grow operations but advises the community must speak with its local government about this issue.
The Province of BC allows that licensed Medical Marijuana production facilities be in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) but isn’t recognizing the fact that these lands are many times in densely populated residential areas, using well water, and in this particular case, on a vulnerable aquifer.
The previous mayor and council of the City of Maple Ridge directed Tantalus Labs, the owner constructing the grow operation, to ALR land, suggested to them several properties, one of which, as we know, is the property on 272th Street. in Whonnock. Concerned residents feel the current City of Maple Ridge mayor and council has a duty to protect the residents of Whonnock regardless of who was responsible for the previous decision.
The residents are very concerned about their wells running dry and the safety of their community, in addition to environmental impact and decreasing property values. The protest is being held to bring attention to these issues.
Please join us at the proposed site (9860 272nd Street, Maple Ridge) on May 22nd.

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