Pubdate: Sat, 23 Jul 2016
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Page: A3
Copyright: 2016 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Bill Cleverley

VICTORIA COUNCIL DRAFTING POT RULES

Staff Recommending Regulations for Licensing of Shops

Victoria marijuana dispensaries operating in defiance of new city 
regulations could face fines of up to $1,000 a day under proposals 
that will be before councillors next week.

But getting the necessary regulations and zoning bylaws in place will 
be complicated, meaning it will likely be the new year before the 
city sees its first licensed marijuana shop, Mayor Lisa Helps said Friday.

"It's very complex and that's why it's taken a little while," Helps said.

"But people have asked for regulation. We're bringing in regulation. 
The people who are serious business people will comply with it and 
the people who won't, will be fined."

City staff are recommending regulations to bring order to what has 
been open season for the storefront sale of marijuana.

A framework would allow the city to consider permitting 
marijuana-related businesses on a site-by-site basis.

Regulations would specify requirements such as no marijuana use or 
other business on site, no one under 19 on the premises and the 
posting of health and safety warnings. Sites would have to be closed 
between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m., have security plans and conduct criminal 
record checks of employees.

Once those regulations are in place - anticipated in early September 
- - marijuana retailers would be able to begin a rezoning process.

Under the new zoning, policy marijuana retailers would not be allowed 
to locate within 200 metres of each other or a school. While city 
councillors had suggested putting a 200-metre buffer around licensed 
daycares as well, city staff say that might be too restrictive, and 
Helps agrees.

The expectation is that the new regulatory regime will drastically 
reduce the number of dispensaries that will eventually be allowed to 
operate. Helps recommends those operators who want to stay in 
business had better get their ducks in a row.

"If I were a serious dispensary operator right now, I would have an 
architect. I would have an engineer. I would be anticipating some of 
the things that the planning staff are going to be looking for," Helps said.

"People who are serious will be organizing now and getting ready to 
make application. ... There will be a time period when those 
applications go through a rezoning process and then we will crack 
down on people who are not intending to comply."

Staff are recommending, on a cost-recovery basis, a $7,500 rezoning 
fee and $5,000 business licence fee.

The past two years have seen an explosion in the number of 
marijuana-related businesses. An estimated 35 businesses are selling 
marijuana compared with only four in April 2014.

Bringing regulation to the business of selling marijuana will require 
additional staff, both for processing applications and enforcement of 
new rules, staff say. Additional costs are proposed to be recovered 
through fees.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom