The operator of a planned medical marijuana facility pledged this week he would make his Port Coquitlam facility secure and odour-free.
And if his business didn't comply, the city could shut it down.
Those were the words from Raj Mattu, a Port Coquitlam resident and spokesperson for Remedi Pharmaceuticals, which has requested to rezone part of the Iotron industrial building at 1425 Kebet Way to grow and cut cannabis for patients on behalf of Health Canada.
During Monday's public hearing, Mattu told city council his company is making a large investment to produce medical marijuana, now a federally regulated — and legal — crop.
Remedi officials had toured another facility to learn the ropes, he said, and estimated Remedi, a Tri-Cities' Chamber of Commerce member, would be hiring 20 highly educated people for the PoCo plant, including "horticulturalists, scientists and PhDs."
"If we don't do it right, feel free to shut us down," he told council. "Please police us, regulate us but don't hinder our operation."
And city council didn't.
After the public hearing, it gave three readings to Remedi's rezoning bid.
But while Mayor Greg Moore and most councillors said they were confident with Remedi's ability to curb the odours and emissions and keep the facility closed to the public — "We are going to be on top of it," Coun. Glenn Pollock vowed — Coun. Dean Washington voiced concern about who would be on top of it.
Health Canada, stated Mayor Moore.
"Well, that gives me great comfort," Washington said, sarcastically, "based on the job they did with their medical marijuana. I have a lot of faith especially with the new program, not knowing their staffing levels and whatnot, and being on the west coast."
Washington, who was the only opponent on council, also took Remedi to task for failing to make personal contact with the property owners of the two neighbouring buildings, both of whom told council earlier that night they had not been notified about the public hearing.
Bruce Barclay called Remedi's proposal "a $10-million get rich quick scheme" and warned about the lack of police presence in the Meridian Industrial Park. He also said if the application went through, he would be asking the city for a break on the $65,000 he pays annually in property taxes because of decreased land values with the enterprise next door.
Doug Stead, who pays $93,000 a year in property taxes for his building on the other side of Iotron, also expressed concern about the medical marijuana industry being in a state of flux with court challenges and federal regulations.
Mayor Moore said if the bid proceeds to final reading, the city would have the "ultimate control" over Remedi by withdrawing its business licence and stopping operations for not adhering to the restrictive covenant.
On Tuesday, Mattu clarified city reports that stated Remedi would produce 2,000 or 7,800 kg of medical marijuana a year. "It's more on the lower side," he told The Tri-City News. "We are just estimating because the city wanted a number."
Mattu also declined to say what Remedi's profit margin would be; however, he said the private company is "a long ways away" from getting a Health Canada licence.
He added, "I want to thank city staff and council for their cautious approach and giving us a fair chance."
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