More Delta greenhouses plan to make the switch to pot in advance of the federal government’s legalization of recreational marijuana this summer.

The latest that appears ready to join what’s expected to be a multi-billion-dollar market is the SunSelect greenhouse in East Delta.

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Representatives from Canopy Growth Corp. met with city officials late last year about the company’s intention to start growing marijuana in Delta. The greenhouse on Hornby Drive is now undergoing security enhancements.

Last fall, Canopy Growth Corp. announced it would develop up to three million square feet of greenhouse growing capacity at a pair of sites in B.C. to grow marijuana.

Canopy said in a statement that it entered into a joint venture agreement with a large-scale greenhouse operator where it will be a majority shareholder of a new company called BC Tweed Joint Venture Inc.

The name of that greenhouse operator, however, has been kept secret.

Health Canada, where the application was submitted, refused to provide details or even confirm the application, citing business confidentiality.

Canopy Growth CEO Bruce Linton said in a statement last year the operator currently grows peppers but millions would be spent in a transformation to cannabis production.

Although the location has been kept under wraps, a letter to the city from Canopy confirms the Hornby Drive greenhouse would be converted.

The company stated it’s applying to become authorized for the production, possession, sale, shipment, transportation as well as delivery of dried marijuana plants and seeds at the premises located at 10250 Hornby Dr.

Meanwhile, in another deal involving an unknown company, a greenhouse on 104th Street in East Delta is reportedly also converting to pot.

Last summer, Village Farms International made public its plans to cultivate medical and non-medical marijuana.

Village Farms International, which operates a large greenhouse in East Ladner, signed a joint venture with Emerald Health Therapeutics and submitted an application to Health Canada.

Unhappy the province has yet to give the city any say on industrial-scale recreational pot operations on Delta farmland, Mayor Lois Jackson reiterated her concerns about food security.

“It’s a lot of dough and people see the dollar signs. It’s obviously very lucrative, so they will follow the money. The province at least gave local governments the authority to say where they’ll have retail outlets, but we only have a five per cent land base where we can grow food and I was always told never count on other countries to supply your food.”

Jackson added the costs, including policing, will be left on the city’s doorstep.

“It’s very easy for the feds to say they’ll legalize it, end of story, but it all comes down to local government having to pick up all the pieces. I find it very disturbing,” she said.

The mayor said Delta has received numerous inquiries from parties interested in setting up marijuana operations, including one request, she said, “that made me almost fall out of my chair” when someone asked her assistance in finding a suitable hothouse.

Delta councillor and Delta South Liberal MLA Ian Paton agreed recreational cannabis production should be kept off farmland.

“Agricultural land is a hell of a lot cheaper than buying land in a commercial/industrial park but I think it’s a real shame we’re replacing tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers with marijuana,” he said.

According to Health Canada, 89 licences have been issued to grow medical pot so far, but another 428 applications are in progress. Health Canada would not say how many are from Delta.