An amendment to 91原创 Township鈥檚 zoning bylaw introduced at council鈥檚 April 18 meeting addresses for the first time medical marijuana dispensaries.

Mark Neill, the Township鈥檚 manager of development planning, explained that although the document underwent a review in 2007, it did not make provision for medical marijuana dispensaries.

The amendment is to specifically exclude them from commercial zones.

The amendment defines medical marijuana dispensaries as the use of any premises to sell, distribute or trade the drug, unless allowed under federal marijuana medical access regulations.

This, Neill told council, 鈥渋s a federally regulated item.鈥�

Administrator Mark Bakken advised that the Township has received several inquiries about business licences, and the amendment to the zoning bylaw 鈥渨ould strengthen our position that this is a non-permitted use, by specifically stating they are not permitted.鈥�

The zoning bylaw, a document which consolidates all the Township鈥檚 zoning laws, was adopted in 1987. The amendments will require a public hearing.