News
Medicinal pot growing: questions raised in B.C. over property tax rules

June 25, 2014, Vancouver — Municipal politicians and medical marijuana
growers are raising questions about some new property tax rules in
British Columbia.

June 25, 2014, Vancouver — Municipal politicians and medical marijuana growers are raising questions about some new property tax rules in British Columbia.

The rules base the rates on several factors, and agricultural rates are up to 87.5 per cent lower than other tax categories.

Agriculture minister Norm Letnick announced earlier this week that medical marijuana growers won’t be able to claim a tax break designed for farms and agricultural operations.
 
But the province also confirmed marijuana production would be considered a farm use within the Agricultural Land Reserve, 4.7 million hectares of protected farmland in B.C.

Jack Froese who is the mayor of the Township of Langley says the province has effectively overridden his community’s bylaw when it comes to the land reserve. He says he wants to make sure the new system protects residents and is safe for workers.

James Poelzer represents Agrima Botanicals, a medical marijuana operation in Maple Ridge that’s close to receiving final approval. He says it doesn’t make sense to consider marijuana production farming in one context but not in another.