Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jan 2018
Source: Cowichan Valley Citizen (CN BC)
Copyright: 2018 Cowichan Valley Citizen
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/cowichanvalleycitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4349
Author: Robert Barron

COUNCIL MOVES TO BAN POT SHOPS

The Municipality of North Cowichan is considering prohibiting the
retail sale of marijuana within its boundaries.

That means that any application to set up a pot shop in North Cowichan
would require a site-specific zoning amendment that would have to come
before council to be considered.

In anticipation of the upcoming legalization of pot, expected this
summer, North Cowichan's council gave first and second reading at its
meeting on Jan. 17 to the zoning bylaw amendment.

This proposed zoning amendment will now proceed to a public hearing,
and the time and place of the hearing will be announced.

A staff report indicated that under the municipality's current zoning,
once marijuana becomes legal, retailers would be able to apply to set
up pot shops under North Cowichan's very general "retail store"
zoning, which has few constraints, including rules on where they can
be established.

"There are different views on whether cannabis dispensaries should be
permitted and, if they are permitted, where they should or should not
be located within our communities," said Kyle Young, North Cowichan's
assistant manager of planning and subdivision, in the report.

"In order for the municipality to have the greatest level of control
over where these types of operations can or cannot occur, cannabis
sales must be defined and regulated in the zoning bylaw."

Scott Mack, director of development services, told council that the
zoning amendment should be viewed as a "cautious initial move" by the
municipality to protect its interests as the federal government has
yet to reveal the regulatory processes it wants in place for new
marijuana stores once pot has been legalized.

"When we see that, we can still augment the regulations to fit our
needs," Mack said.

As for existing pot stores operating in the municipality, Mack said
they have no business licences or authorization from North Cowichan to
operate.

"Even when marijuana is legalized and the new regulations are in
effect, these existing shops will still be illegal under our zoning,"
he said.

Coun. Tom Walker said he has no sympathy for the illegal pot shops
currently operating in North Cowichan.

"The public will have the opportunity to speak to these issues at the
upcoming public hearing," he said.

A press release from the municipality said the zoning bylaw amendment
would not affect any existing, federally-licensed cannabis production
facilities currently operating under the Access to Cannabis for
Medical Purposes Regulation within North Cowichan.
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MAP posted-by: Matt