A community along British Columbia's Sunshine Coast is considering whether to implement special zoning for medical marijuana, allowing large-scale commercial operations in industrial and agricultural areas.

Councillors in the District of Sechelt have agreed to consider a draft bylaw that would allow commercial marijuana farms on some industrial or agricultural lands in the community, located a short ferry ride north of Vancouver.

The district will hold public hearings on the proposal, which have the support of the local RCMP and fire department.

The proposed bylaw would allow Health Canada-licensed growers that are producing marijuana for multiple users to set up shop in industrial zones. Licensed users who grow medical marijuana in their homes for their own personal use would not be affected.

"The zoning didn't provide for that kind of business to be operated on industrial property, so this is simply addressing that," Sechelt Mayor John Henderson said in an interview.

"The bylaws never contemplated marijuana being legal. In this case, licensed producers already exist. This is just us saying if a licensed producer wants to create a business in an industrially zoned area, they'll be allowed to."

District staff drafted the proposed bylaw after they received an application to renovate an industrial building in Sechelt to grow medical marijuana.