Pubdate: Tue, 11 Apr 2017
Source: Daily Courier, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/531
Author: Ron Seymour
Page: A1

HODGE OPPOSES LIMITS ON POT SHOPS

Kelowna city councillor argues pot shops should be treated like other
retail outlets

The City of Kelowna shouldn't try to restrict the location of pot
shops once marijuana becomes legal, Coun. Charlie Hodge says.

Imposing such controls, Hodge said Monday, is an "archaic" approach
that would create a "stigma" around the sale and use of pot.

Hodge said he, like many other Kelowna residents, has a licence to use
marijuana for various medical problems.

"Doesn't mean I'm doing it, but I am legally allowed to do it," Hodge
said. "I don't want to feel I'm sliding in the back door in some alley
somewhere to pick up my medication.

"I don't see any reason why (pot shops) shouldn't be treated like any
other retail outlet," Hodge said.

The idea of the city regulating the location of pot shops in the
future, even after the drug is legalized by the federal government,
arose in a staff report to council.

But the specific discussion at council on Monday involved what, if
anything, the city should do to try to curb the number of pot shops
that are already opening in Kelowna.

Under existing federal law, the retail sale of marijuana is illegal,
regardless of whether the buyer has a licence to use pot.

Like many cities, Kelowna has seen a number of pot shops opened by
owners who are essentially betting their operations will be allowed
once marijuana is legalized by Ottawa.

But municipalities are expected to have the power to regulate pot
shops even after legalization, imposing controls on where they are
located, for example, and requiring would-be operators to go through
rezoning applications, which would allow their neighbours to comment.

So there is no guarantee or even likelihood that existing pot shops
will be allowed to remain where they are after the drug's
legalization, even if the owner has bought the property or made
substantial leasehold improvements.

At Monday's meeting, council agreed to amend an existing bylaw for
retail and convenience stores to specifically prevent them from
selling marijuana.

"People who want to open a (pot shop) right now should not," Mayor
Colin Basran said. "While (marijuana) is illegal, it's illegal
everywhere."

"It's not a business. It's an illegal enterprise," agreed Coun. Brad
Sieben.

A public hearing on the bylaw amendment will be held May
2.

At some point in the future, council will consider staff's suggestion
to restrict pot shops and require property rezonings before they could
open.

Current ideas are to prevent pot shops from some downtown streets with
high pedestrian traffic, and to make sure they're located well away
from schools and parks.

Such possible regulation, Coun. Luke Stack, shouldn't be seen as
onerous.

"We're not talking about medical marijuana. We're talking about
recreational marijuana," Stack said. "I can't see there being any less
regulation (for those kind of stores) than we see today for liquor
store outlets."
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MAP posted-by: Matt