A medical marijuana producer is preparing to set up shop at Nanaimo’s Duke Point.
Nanaimo city council unanimously agreed to rezone property in the Duke Point area last week, allowing Lafitte Ventures to grow medical marijuana on site.
While there had been initial concerns the company would evade industrial taxes through farm status, Lafitte has vowed not to. It has also signed a covenant preventing it from applying to B.C. Assessment for a tax change.
It was the assurance council had been looking for, according to Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan.
With the rezoning secured, Lafitte Ventures is now working on getting a building permit to kick off a $1.5-million renovation project, with the aim to start growing marijuana in February and ship to patients when Health Canada bring in its new Marijuana for Medicinal Purposes regulation in April.