REQUEST FOR DIRECTION
DATE: February 2, 2021 Report No. CSS-21-002
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Blair McDonald, Director of Community Safety Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Cannabis Retailers - Hours of Operation
End
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
Does Council wish to change the allowable hours of operation for Cannabis Retailers as prescribed by the Business Licence Regulation Bylaw?
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That the Committee of the Whole receive Staff Report No. CSS-21-002 for information, provide any additional direction to staff as the COTW considers advisable, and direct staff to prepare a report for Council's consideration.
Body
BACKGROUND:
In 2018, the Federal Government of Canada legalized recreational Cannabis. Subsequently the Province of British Columbia established a regime for approval of retail cannabis outlets and regulations relating to sales through the Cannabis Distribution Act. The Provincial statute allows Retail Cannabis stores to be open during the hours of 9 AM to 11 PM daily. Provincial regulations were drafted after significant public consultation.
In October of 2018, Council passed Bylaw No. 2943 which amended the Business Licence Regulation Bylaw, 2013, No. 2810 by amending section 24 to read as follows:
Cannabis Retailers and Drug Paraphernalia
24. (1) No person shall operate a business for the purposes of selling cannabis or drug paraphernalia within a 0.5 kilometer radius from any point on the grounds of an Elementary, Junior Secondary or High School within the Municipality.
(2) No person carrying on a business shall display or permit to be displayed on a street or in any window facing a street, or elsewhere where it can be seen by a person outside the premises, any cannabis or drug paraphernalia.
(3) No person carrying on a business shall sell cannabis or drug paraphernalia to any person under the age of 19 years except where the premises are licensed as a pharmacy under the Pharmacists, ...
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