REQUEST FOR DIRECTION
DATE: April 09, 2018 Report No. DEV-18-022
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Bill Brown, Director of Development Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Options for controlling the size and location of Cannabis Retail outlets
End
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
Which option would Council prefer to control the size and location of cannabis retail outlets?
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That the COTW receive Staff Report DEV-18-022 and direct staff to prepare a set of comprehensive amendments to the Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 that would prohibit "Cannabis Retail" as a land use in Esquimalt but that could permit "Cannabis Retail" to be considered by Council through site specific rezoning.
Body
BACKGROUND:
On April 13, 2017, Bill C-45, An Act respecting cannabis and to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Criminal Code and other Acts, was introduced in the House of Commons. When it comes into force, the Act it will allow legal access to non-medical cannabis and control and regulate its production, distribution, and sale. The Act does not however, control the distribution, licensing, retail scheme, or location of Cannabis Retail outlets. These elements have fallen to the provincial governments. In the case of British Columbia, the province has issued the B.C. Cannabis Private Retail Licensing Guide Applications and Operations (Schedule "A"). In the Guide, the province has laid out the application process for a non-medical Cannabis retail licence and information about: licences, operations, supply, inspections and compliance, and rural areas. Of particular note, are the references to local government requirements. Specifically, the Guide states:
The Province will permit local governments to decide whether they wish to have a non-medical cannabis retail store in their community. For the Province to issue a licence, applicants must have the support of the local government in the community where the proposed store wo...
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