Marajuana Production Issues in Cache Creek

Carmen Ranta, a School Board Trustee for School District 74 joins Civic Journalist Gareth Smart, in a conversation about a petition put forward from Local MP Brad Vis. This petition is in regards to medical marijuana legislation.

Why is this happening? In Cache Creek there is an alleged medical marijuana grow op in the center of town that is producing a "foul odor", which has encompassed the village. The way that the current legislation stands does not include this type of alleged grow-op.

The building in question is old Chinese food restaurant "The Wonder Inn", which closed its doors several years ago. The alleged activity in question moved in about 6 years ago and has been operating out of the building since then. Currently the village of Cache Creek, the local RCMP, the local Fire Department etc are not allowed to enter/investigate this building for any reason, including suspected criminal activity. Due to no laws seemingly being broken (because there are no laws that covers this situation) everyone's hands are tied.

This petition is being handed out to try and give municipalities that have similar situations like this a leg to stand on. This would give fire, police, rescue and municipalities a opportunity to follow up on complaints and possible hazards that these situations bring up.

Ranta is not against the production and sales of marijuana as long as these facilities have filtration systems and are a certain amount of metres away from any school.

The Village of Cache Creek has recently started changing their by-laws to give people an opportunity to produce, farm and sell the newly legalized commodity in the area, which Ranta suggested that having this come to the area might be what Cache Creeks needs as a boost to the economy.

In 2020 Cache Creek put out a survey asking the village if they would support this industry within the city limits. The results produced mostly positive results.