CEN Biotech 'looking at other locations' for medical marijuana facility

A representative of CEN Biotech told CBC News the company is not ruling out moving to other municipalities, even though the facility is close to completion.

"It's not the only location we're interested in," said Joe Byrne. "Other municipalities are rolling out the red carpet and in other jurisdictions. If you run high-paying jobs out of town, where are you going to work at?"

Byrne said Tecumseh is one of those municipalities the company is looking at if the the Town of Lakeshore re-zones the current land the company is building on as industrial.

"We're chasing a changing finish line," he said. "We started out with agricultural zoning. The town was looking at amending the agricultural zoning that enabled us to grow, harvest and sell. We've walked a considerable distance in that regard and then last night, they make another U-turn. I can't predict how many more U-turns they'll make."

Bryne emphasized he is speaking in hypothetical terms.

Police called to Lakeshore council

Police were called to the Lakeshore council chambers Tuesday night after the public debate over medical marijuana facilities got heated.

Politicians were trying to decide whether medical marijuana production facilities should be allowed on agricultural and/or industrial zones.

Staff presented its recommendations, then the public had its say.

CEN Biotech is building a marijuana production plant off Manning Road, on land originally zoned agricultural.

The Town of Lakeshore previously informed CEN Biotech some amenities the company needed couldn't be provided to an agricultural site.

Ed Burling has lived at for 42 years. CEN Biotech is building the marijuana production plant across from his house.

"I've spent 42 years getting our property ready for retirement. If you look next to us, that's what they did," Burling said sternly to council, pointing to plans for a medical marijuana plant.

"Do you want that next to your house?" he asked all members of council. "This thing should be in an industrial park, not on agricultural land.

"We're not disputing medical marijuana or hemp but do it in an industrial park, not where it's at."

Joe Byrne confronted Burling and the meeting broke and police were called.

"Police attended and upon arrival found that some of the people who were possibly causing the disturbance had all ready left. There were no arrests and no charges will be laid," the OPP said in a release.

The company's lawyer Khalid Baksh argued medical marijuana is agricultural.

"Medical marijuana is a crop. It's agriculture. Our company, CEN Biotech, my client, has the right to grow harvest and sell. It's much the same like a tomato," Baksh said.

Coun. Steven Bezaire didn't agree. He was very vocal about his concerns with the location of pot producing facilities.

"Given that it's a huge edifice with lighting, 12-foot high fences with a razor on top, traffic intensification, services that aren't typically there and terribly unsightly," Bezaire said.

So he and his fellow council members voted in favour of allowing medical marijuana facilities but on industrial lands.

That's exactly what resident John McGuire was hoping for.

He lives near the CEN Biotech compound on Manning Road, in a farming area.

"Nobody wants to be anywhere near them. The future of the property near these facilities is dim, if any at all," McGuire said. "Everybody's going to lose everything they've invested and worked hard for."

CEN Biotech's future at its current site is in limbo.

A bylaw still needs to be approved, then sent to county council.

In the meantime, CEN Biotech is still waiting for approval from Health Canada before it can start growing the drug.