Pubdate: Fri, 21 Jul 2017
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Bill Cleverley
Page: A3

CANNABIS USE NOT AN ISSUE FOR ZONING, MAYOR SAYS

Lounges that permit people to use cannabis on site will continue to be
high-priority enforcement areas under city regulations, says Victoria
Mayor Lisa Helps.

"I think we do need a place for the safe consumption of cannabis and I
hope that the federal government and the provincial government will
create that in their regulatory regime," Helps said Thursday during
discussion of enforcement efforts. "But right now, it's not part of
our business licence process and nor do I think it should be.

"I think that consumption is a health issue. It's not a business issue
and it shouldn't be privatized," she said.

Consumption on premises is not permitted under the city cannabis
regulation bylaw. In the past nine months the city has levied $4,000
in fines for allowing consumption on site, city clerk Chris Coates
said.

The smoking lounges, along with four retailers who have not applied
for rezoning and business licensing, are the city's highest priority
for enforcement, Coates said. Applications for court injunctions with
the B.C. Supreme Court against operators that continue to flout
regulations are being finalized.

Helps said the city "has really taken a risk and has been progressive"
with its efforts to regulate cannabis sales in advance of federal
regulations, so those who are not following the city's rules "should
be enforced against."

In an interview, Helps said there's no question that consumption
regulation is a matter for senior governments. "Safe consumption
services, A) are not a business and B) it's a health issue." Like safe
consumption sites for injection drug use, it's an issue for the
Ministry of Health, she said.

"All of those things - the regulation of edibles, the regulation of
consumption, the access to consumption - all of that is not a zoning
issue, and it's definitely not a business licence issue."

In total, more than $20,000 worth of fines have been levied in
connection with the city's new cannabis regulations, Coates said in
his report, including: * 15 $1,000 fines for operating without a
licence * eight $500 fines for allowing consumption * one $250 fine
for displaying prohibited signs * one $500 fine for failing to
maintain air filtration * one $250 fine for operating outside of
permitted hours * one $500 fine for failure to provide required staff

In his report to councillors, Coates said enforcement has been
proactive, initially focusing on education of the operators about the
regulations and helping them navigate the rezoning process.

Only four of the 35 cannabis dispensaries operating in the city have
not applied for rezoning or a business licence. They are: Absolute
Medicinal, 2520 Turner St.; Beard Brothers Society, 849 Fort St.;
Cleanleaf Dispensary, 1056 North Park St.; and Nature's Botanicals,
1011 Johnson St.

Coates said that enforcement of the cannabis regulations is taking a
bigger toll than expected and exceeding the estimated 35 hours a week
of staff time.

Helps said she's considering introducing an amendment to the city's
bylaw that would prohibit the sale of cannabis to persons under the
age of 25, but first wants to do more research.
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MAP posted-by: Matt