Medical Marajuana Growing?

[mtlogcabin]

The State in their infinite wisdom legalized marajuana for medicinal purposes a couple of years ago. It remained as an underground home occupation industry until the current president said his administration would not prosecute individuals in states where it has been legalized. We have a couple of large operations 60' X 150' quonset hut that we just found out about. They have growing lights, they harvest and dry and package the product all inside the building.

Questions

What would the occupancy type be?

Under the fire code what is the commodity class and limits?

One has a used childrens clothing in the front (M use)and a growing operation in the back half would there be a fire seperation issue?

In short what should we be concerned with code wise?

 

[Examiner]

First I would say Group F (Factory) since they are processing the items; F-1 has hemp and jute products. If just growing it would be Group U (Agricultural) similar to a Greenhouse.

 

[cda]

Only in montana

""HIGH"" pile stock??

not much different then a nusery, electrical wiring, temp of the lamps???

so if it is legaly medical wise, can your city get rid of you if you have a presciption and use it??

 

[mtlogcabin]

so if it is legaly medical wise, can your city get rid of you if you have a presciption and use it??

Yes

It does not take a prescription here. Medical doctors are holding clinics at hotels. You go tell them you have some kind of problem, back pain, migraines, stress or whatever, no physical or medical exam required and for $150.00 he will sign a form letter for you to apply to the state for a user card.

A truck driver in another jurisdiction lost his job when he tested positive. Lost his CDL liscense

It is a joke and becoming a nightmare for law enforcement. A co workers brother was killed in his apartment with a hammer 3 weeks ago because 2 people wanted to steal the couple of plants he was growing in his apartment.

 

[FM William Burns]

Weed"

so if it is legaly medical wise, can your city get rid of you if you have a presciption and use it??

In our state yes, and there are a couple of incidents going through the legal system now. Our city won't allow employees to use it either.....hum?

Regarding the classification, I would lean towards Examiner's rationale. Law enforcement in our state is still trying to figure out how to deal with it as are we since suppliers are permitted to be licensed for up to 10, 20 and 50 paitents commercially and that can potentially be 600 plants (1 Paitent = 12 plant max. or potentially 600 lbs. or 12 - 50 lb. bales) and on the code enforcement angle; I would say yes separation from F to M would be required as applicable and all other codes too as applicable especially electrical and mechanical codes.

I won't use the SCBA when one goes up

 

[Alias]

mtlogcabin -

Oy vey........what a nightmare......

As to your question, I would agree with Examiner. F-1 or U, depending on how intensive the packaging process is.

On another note, my first question would be, does the use fit the zoning and the general plan? If it doesn't, and you so desire, you can shut them down that way.

I'm in CA and there are specific rules in larger jurisdictions as to who, what, where, etc., for medical marijuana. We here at the city and county have a moritoruim in effect until February or March of next year. This was done at city council/board of supervisors level with the recommendations of planning staff.

As we are pretty much mandated for the local shop, planning is studying the situation. I and my county counterparts get to permit and inspect the 'final product'. :mrgreen:

Sue, living la vida loca in the land of fruits and nuts :lol:

 

[globe trekker]

.

Sue,

Inhale very deeply on your final inspections. Could you possibly classify these storage

buildings as F-1 / H-3 / S-1 because of the materials stored and / or the quantities?

.

 

[Alias]

.Sue,

Inhale very deeply on your final inspections. Could you possibly classify these storage buildings as

F-1 / H-3 / S-1 because of the materials stored and / or the quantities?

.

globe trekker -

After my bout with lung cancer in '07, I don't inhale nothin' anymore!

Sue

 

[cda]

OUCH, I hurt my pinky typing this, is there are doctor in the hotel???

 

[pwood]

mt,

you need a response from an inspector from virginia or kentucky or one of them thar tabacco growing states.pot is nothing but hi test tabacco and should fall under the same rules. be sure to wear a mask when you enter these places. i've heard from PEOPLE that they felt euphoric just from inspecting these places without ppe! :mrgreen:

 

[globe trekker]

.

My apologies to you Ms. Sue! Hire me as a consultant and I will do some onsite inhaling,

...eeeerrr, I mean "inspections" for you.

.

 

[cda]

""""i've heard from PEOPLE that they felt euphoric just from inspecting these places""""""

And I thought that was from the fantastic inspection I did!!!!

 

[mtlogcabin]

The 2 large growing places meet zoning under a broad interpretation (pharmacuticals) 3 "caregiver" places opened up before the city council could took action.

We have no occupational licsense requirements so they just rented a space and quietly opened up. We will go in under a fire prevention inspection with the state electrical inspector and see just how big the operation is. Thanks for the input on the possible use classifications. I disagree with what the law permits and have a bias towards these operations so I do not want to make a mistake and be over zealous here and not be able to defend my decisions with the code.

 

[Yikes]

In West L.A., a KFC "Kentucky Fried Chicken" was closed, and reopened as KFC, "Kind For Cures" - - a cannabis dispensary. They kept the same cupola and overall architectural look:

http://weirdreaction.com/blog/2009/09/01/kfc-kind-for-cures/

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2009/09/kfc_turned_diispensary_is_actually_not_very_funny.php

It ended up being spoofed on South Park (warning - some language NSFW):

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2010/04/palms_kfc_turned_dispensary_shows_up_on_south_park.php#more

 

[brudgers]

The State in their infinite wisdom legalized marajuana for medicinal purposes a couple of years ago. It remained as an underground home occupation industry until the current president said his administration would not prosecute individuals in states where it has been legalized. We have a couple of large operations 60' X 150' quonset hut that we just found out about. They have growing lights, they harvest and dry and package the product all inside the building. Questions

What would the occupancy type be?

Under the fire code what is the commodity class and limits?

One has a used childrens clothing in the front (M use)and a growing operation in the back half would there be a fire seperation issue?

In short what should we be concerned with code wise?

Sounds like agriculture to me.

Outside the scope of the building code in many jurisdictions.

Otherwise Occupancy U.

Of course agricultural use may not comply with zoning.

 

[jim baird]

brudgers nailed it.

Objectively, what's the diff between maryjane and oregano? Both herbs grown for human consumption.

 

[fatboy]

Same thing happened in CO, ten year old law on the books allowingg MMJ, once Obama opened the gate with the Fed's comment, watch out. Our P & Z moved quickly and now handles them, not allowed in city limits, but can apply for a sales tax license to deliver, go figure.

Side note....Fed's have NOT backed off altogether, we have had a couple large busts by the DEA, down around Denver. If it's large enough, and folks are stupid enough to brag about it, they'll be happy to come get you. I heard their threshold is 99 plants, 100 and they will come after. Don't know if its true...........

 

[north star]

* *

I don't believe that oregano is considered to be a [ somewhat ] mind altering,

psychoactive substance. Plus, cannabis sativa [ i.e - maryjane ] is also considered

to be a "gateway drug".

fatboy,

Can't grow & process, but can deliver to you jurisdiction. That sounds like

legalized drug distribution and a significant increase in developing a drug market

for the drug selling scumbags of this world. [ shaking my head in utter

disbelief at the arrogance and no back bone of this country ]!

* *

 

[brudgers]

* *

I don't believe that oregano is considered to be a [ somewhat ] mind altering,

psychoactive substance. Plus, cannabis sativa [ i.e - maryjane ] is also considered

to be a "gateway drug".



* *

Pot is a gateway only because completely it's illegal and thus people using it are exposed to the wider black market.

Most young people's first exposure to illicit substances is alcohol.

 

[mtlogcabin]

If they are processing & packaging I do not believe it is just an agricultural use. Will pay a visit next week and find out exactly what the uses within the building are.

AGRICULTURAL, BUILDING. A structure designed and constructed to house farm implements, hay, grain, poultry, livestock or other horticultural products. This structure shall not be a place of human habitation or a place of employment where agricultural products are processed, treated or packaged, nor shall it be a place used by the public.

Maybe F-1 is a better classification no seperation requirement between the M and F-1 whereas U and M requires 2 hour seperation

306.2 Factory Industrial F-1 Moderate-hazard Occupancy.

Factory industrial uses which are not classified as Factory Industrial F-2 Low Hazard shall be classified as F-1 Moderate Hazard and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

Hemp products

 

[texasbo]

I like to think of oregano as the gateway spice to garlic.

Edit: Sorry for making a smartass comment without actually offering help; I'd go with U.

 

[fatboy]

"fatboy,

Can't grow & process, but can deliver to you jurisdiction. That sounds like

legalized drug distribution and a significant increase in developing a drug market

for the drug selling scumbags of this world."

Well, my personal opinions aside, we have not much choice, as I said CO passed the MMJ law back in 2000 I believe. So with the Doc's little note, you can consume in privacy. You can also grow up to 6 plants of your own, or give the right to a "caregiver" (grower). Can't stop them from growing/smoking their 6 plants, but can prevent them from developing warehouses.

And I agree, I think it would be an F-1.

 

[RJJ]

MT: I would have to test the product to determine how to classify! The other question in the op will have to wait until after testing. I am sure after a few good tests the conditions of occupancy will be rather simple to comply with.

 

[brudgers]

If they are processing & packaging I do not believe it is just an agricultural use. Will pay a visit next week and find out exactly what the uses within the building are.AGRICULTURAL, BUILDING. A structure designed and constructed to house farm implements, hay, grain, poultry, livestock or other horticultural products. This structure shall not be a place of human habitation or a place of employment where agricultural products are processed, treated or packaged, nor shall it be a place used by the public.

Maybe F-1 is a better classification no seperation requirement between the M and F-1 whereas U and M requires 2 hour seperation

306.2 Factory Industrial F-1 Moderate-hazard Occupancy.

Factory industrial uses which are not classified as Factory Industrial F-2 Low Hazard shall be classified as F-1 Moderate Hazard and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

Hemp products

Pot isn't hemp. Hemp is the fiber processed from the plant.

Growing pot is however, horticultural.

I'm getting flashbacks...to the pizza joint is an F1 thread.

BTW, with all those grow lights separation isn't such a bad idea.