bigmanc
Well-Known Member
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/news/ottawa-rejects-lakeshores-cen-biotech-marijuana-operation
The federal government is rejecting a proposal by a company that wants to open a large medical marijuana operation in Lakeshore.
Health Canada has confirmed that it sent a letter to CEN Biotech on Friday saying it will deny the company a licence to grow marijuana.
“At this point in time a letter was issued to the applicant with the intent to reject the application,” Health Canada spokesperson Stéphane Shank said Saturday.
Shank said he couldn’t release details as to why the application was rejected.
It’s not the only roadblock CEN Biotech faces in its quest to turn it’s multi-million dollar facility near the intersection of Manning and North Rear roads into a marijuana growing operation.
The company’s 53,000-square-foot pole barn surrounded by large chain link fence is on land that is currently zoned for agricultural use.
Last April, the town sent CEN Biotech a letter saying the property doesn’t have adequate hydro, sewer and water services for its proposed medical marijuana plant.
At a November council meeting, during which OPP officers were called in to defuse tensions, the town declared that medical marijuana and hemp facilities could only be built on industrially zoned land.
Lakeshore Mayor Tom Bain said CEN Biotech has an appeal before the Ontario Municipal Board regarding the restriction. “And as such we will still be dealing with it until we hear otherwise,” he said.
Area residents are worried about traffic, appearance, security, smells and having a “research” location just down the road, said lawyer Bruck Easton, who represents neighbours of the property.
“The residents are certainly looking forward to seeing the prison-like structures and fencing gone,” he said. “And that the area will return to a rural-residential area, which it’s been for many years.”
There have also been questions raised about financial dealings involving CEN Biotech and its CEO Bill Chaaban. The Globe and Mail reported in December that the CEO sold 71 million shares last year, resulting in a more than $4.6 million personal gain.
The paper reported claims were made to investors that CEN Biotech was on the verge of getting a licence from Health Canada, which the ministry refuted at the time.
Though CEN Biotech could not be reached for comment Saturday, Chaaban has told the Star in the past he follows U.S. security regulations that required him to give 90 days notice before selling his shares in the company and collecting his proceeds.
“If anybody believes we have done anything wrong, I would say ‘Please come look under the hood, we have nothing to hide,” he said last month.
The federal government is rejecting a proposal by a company that wants to open a large medical marijuana operation in Lakeshore.
Health Canada has confirmed that it sent a letter to CEN Biotech on Friday saying it will deny the company a licence to grow marijuana.
“At this point in time a letter was issued to the applicant with the intent to reject the application,” Health Canada spokesperson Stéphane Shank said Saturday.
Shank said he couldn’t release details as to why the application was rejected.
It’s not the only roadblock CEN Biotech faces in its quest to turn it’s multi-million dollar facility near the intersection of Manning and North Rear roads into a marijuana growing operation.
The company’s 53,000-square-foot pole barn surrounded by large chain link fence is on land that is currently zoned for agricultural use.
Last April, the town sent CEN Biotech a letter saying the property doesn’t have adequate hydro, sewer and water services for its proposed medical marijuana plant.
At a November council meeting, during which OPP officers were called in to defuse tensions, the town declared that medical marijuana and hemp facilities could only be built on industrially zoned land.
Lakeshore Mayor Tom Bain said CEN Biotech has an appeal before the Ontario Municipal Board regarding the restriction. “And as such we will still be dealing with it until we hear otherwise,” he said.
Area residents are worried about traffic, appearance, security, smells and having a “research” location just down the road, said lawyer Bruck Easton, who represents neighbours of the property.
“The residents are certainly looking forward to seeing the prison-like structures and fencing gone,” he said. “And that the area will return to a rural-residential area, which it’s been for many years.”
There have also been questions raised about financial dealings involving CEN Biotech and its CEO Bill Chaaban. The Globe and Mail reported in December that the CEO sold 71 million shares last year, resulting in a more than $4.6 million personal gain.
The paper reported claims were made to investors that CEN Biotech was on the verge of getting a licence from Health Canada, which the ministry refuted at the time.
Though CEN Biotech could not be reached for comment Saturday, Chaaban has told the Star in the past he follows U.S. security regulations that required him to give 90 days notice before selling his shares in the company and collecting his proceeds.
“If anybody believes we have done anything wrong, I would say ‘Please come look under the hood, we have nothing to hide,” he said last month.
