Pubdate: Sun, 15 Nov 2015
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Times Colonist
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html
Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Bill Cleverley
Page: A3

CITY POT SHOPS ESCAPE HEFTY FEE

Licences to cost about $5,000, far less than for-profit dispensaries
in Vancouver

Marijuana dispensaries in Victoria will not have to pay a premium of
tens of thousands of dollars for a business licence as their Vancouver
counterparts do under proposals from city staff.

While business licence costs are yet to be determined, city staff are
recommending a fee based on cost recovery - likely in the range of
$4,000 to $5,000.

Mayor Lisa Helps said the sooner the new business licensing bylaw is
brought in, the better.

"One of the risks we run is if we do nothing, then more and more
dispensaries can keep popping up. And there's a risk they could become
grandfathered when the federal legislation changes and we will have no
control over anything," Helps said. "That's a worry to me."

The proposed regulations cover topics such as air filtration,
security, advertising and age restrictions. They are designed to
address health and safety concerns, potential neighbourhood impacts
and security concerns, says a staff report going to Victoria
councillors in the coming week.

While city councillors have said they want to hear from the new
federal government about its proposals for legalizing and regulating
marijuana before proceeding, city staff say there is value in the city
moving ahead while the federal rules are being developed.

"Since the city's proposed regulations focus exclusively on the
operation and location of businesses, rather than the actual sale of
marijuana products, it is anticipated that any regulations developed
by the city will continue to be relevant and applicable regardless of
changes in the federal regulatory scheme," the report says.

The number of medical marijuana-related businesses in the city is
growing fast.

About 18 months ago, only four marijuana-related businesses were in
operation in the city. There are now 23 and police say they know of at
least four more that plan to open up shop.

Only four of the existing businesses have business licences. The
licences allow for the sale of paraphernalia or providing medical
advice, but do not authorize the sale of marijuana - in fact, the city
will not issue a licence to anyone who says they plan to distribute
marijuana.

The City of Vancouver has recently given the green light to 11 of the
176 dispensaries that have applied for licences.

Vancouver has created a two-tier licensing system that allows
compassion clubs to pay a fee of $1,000, while for-profit pot shops
must pay $30,000.

Victoria staff say they found no appreciable distinction among the
businesses that would warrant creation of more than one business class.

Helps said she is keen to see the federal government step up to the
plate.

"It shouldn't be a municipal issue. We've got lots of other things to
do. I'm happy to have a federal government that's going to take it
seriously and work with municipalities. But, in the meantime, if we do
nothing we'll just see more dispensaries without any city control,"
she said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt