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Smell complaints over Avant Brands facility in Okanagan

Published on June 17, 2022 by David Wylie

Photo: Contributed

Cannabis grower Avant Brands is causing a stink in Vernon.

The city has received 23 complaints about “intermittent cannabis odour” from the company’s new cannabis production facility from nearby residents since January.

The 60,000-square-foot facility is currently the largest cultivation facility within Avant.

The city says it’s been working with management at the Avant grow operation to bring it into compliance with zoning bylaws, which outlaw “nuisance” odours.

“The production facility is in the process of upgrading its air filtration system to mitigate the cannabis odour to ensure they align with Health Canada’s odour control requirements for the indoor commercial production of cannabis under the Cannabis Regulations,” says an administration update from the City of Vernon.

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“Bylaw Compliance continues to monitor the situation and should the filtration system not be effectively upgraded to address cannabis odour concerns, Bylaw Compliance will proceed with progressive enforcement of Zoning Bylaw regulations.”

The company is behind pot brands BLK MKT and Tenzo.

“Bylaw Compliance has also reported the odour issue to Health Canada for follow up and has requested a file update from Health Canada Compliance and Enforcement to ensure compliance with indoor commercial production of cannabis odour control requirements as per Cannabis Regulations. Complainants have also been encouraged to consider reporting their concerns to Health Canada’s online complaint system for follow up by Health Canada Compliance and Enforcement,” say city staff.

The 3PL JV cannabis production facility on Kosmina Road was licensed in 2021.

The venture was formed in 2018 between Avant’s wholly-owned subsidiary GreenTec and F-20 Developments.