Pubdate: Fri, 20 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

PUBLIC ASKED TO WEIGH IN ON POT DISPENSARY RULES

Council votes to move ahead while federal regulations are
developed

Victoria will take its proposed marijuana dispensary licensing
regulations to the public for feedback.

City councillors earlier said they wanted to hear from the new federal
government about its proposals for legalizing and regulating marijuana
before proceeding with a business licensing bylaw.

The majority of council agreed Thursday with staff that there is value
in consulting with the public on the city's proposed regulations while
federal changes are being developed.

"I'm supportive of this very, very, very reluctantly," said Mayor Lisa
Helps, saying marijuana is a federal issue that is taking up "an
inordinate" amount of time when it shouldn't even be on the municipal
table.

Helps said she doesn't want to be faced with the possibility of a
number of marijuana shops being grandfathered because of city inaction.

"The city needs to have control over these land uses. It's within our
purview. I don't want 30 rezoning applications coming at once, but I
strongly feel that this should be regulated not only through business
licensing but also through zoning," Helps said.

Coun. Marianne Alto argued against, saying the city was "setting
standards in a vacuum" and that much of the staff work could end up
being wasted time if it is usurped by federal laws.

Alto said she was concerned that the proposed city regulations don't
distinguish between for profit and non-profit dispensaries, don't
allow for sale of edible marijuana products and could be "an
enforcement black hole" consuming far too much staff time.

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.

The City of Vancouver recently gave the green light to 11 of the 176
dispensaries that have applied for licences. It created a twotier
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, and that unlike Vancouver, city licensing fees have to be based
on cost recovery.

Coun. Jeremy Loveday said he looked forward to hearing from the
public. He and several other councillors had concerns about proposed
rules prohibiting sale of edibles.

"I look forward to having a meaningful engagement and I think part of
that has to be, again, with the dispensaries directly and specifically
with the compassion clubs," Loveday said, adding he wants to hear what
they think the difference is between them and for-profit stores.

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.

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.
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MAP posted-by: Matt