B.C. preserves local governments' tax revenues from medical marijuana growers
By Contributor
The Government of British Columbia is excluding federally-licensed medical marijuana production from the list of agricultural uses that qualify for farm classification for assessment and property tax purposes.
The decision will ensure local governments do not lose potential property tax revenues from the Health Canada licensed-production facilities.
Medical marijuana is a federally-regulated narcotic produced by licensed operators in British Columbia. There are currently five federally-licensed facilities in British Columbia.
B.C.’s position takes into consideration the nature of the highly-regulated and secure facilities, and is consistent with the approach being taken in neighbouring Alberta.
The Government of British Columbia will also continue to view medical-marijuana production as an allowable farm use within the Agricultural Land Reserve that should not be prohibited by local government bylaws. This is consistent with the Agricultural Land Commission’s interpretation of the Agricultural Land Commission Act.
Federal regulations for medical marijuana came into effect April 1, 2014. The exclusion from farm classification for property tax purposes will take effect for property assessments in the 2015 taxation year.
