If you are interested in opening up a marijuana grow and processing plant, Red Deer County recently passed a bylaw making it easier for you, with less headaches for members of the community. 

Red Deer County passed the bylaw yesterday, allowing medical cannabis productions facilities to be built within a medium industrial zone, or for discretionary use in business-service industrial areas, instead of its previous designation as agriculture zone. 

Mayor of Red Deer County Jim Wood says after a few applications were received to build one of these marijuana facilities, they heard some feedback from residents in the area of the proposed facility.

“We have seen a huge concern from our residents that out in their communities, maybe besides their community halls, maybe besides their home, that huge marijuana facilities would be able to pop up, and change the nature of their community.”

Wood says industrial areas are better suited for this type of facility.

“We recognize that these types of facilities require proper policing, proper roads, proper utilities, proper water supply. Most of these things are very readily available in our industrial parks.” 

Those applications were eventually withdrawn. 

There are currently no applications put forward, but Woods expects that to change after the passing of yesterday’s bylaw.