No Quick Approval For Pot Shops

By Corey Fischer

Oct 29, 2018 | 3:07 PM

It will be the new year before the first legal pot shops in Vernon open.

The City says staff will bring forward changes to the zoning bylaw to allow cannabis-related activities as a permitted use in certain zones.

“We will bring forward amendments to the Zoning Bylaw at the Nov. 13 meeting,” says City Communications Manager Nick Nilsen.

Nilson says once the changes have been reviewed and approved by council, the City can begin receiving license applications.

“We expect that will happen in January at the earliest. The City cannot accept any license applications until the Zoning Bylaw has been amended.”

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The process in Kamloops could be much quicker.

Two private store applications go before Kamloops city council on Tuesday.

Kamloops is home to BC’s first government-run cannabis retail store — and it could also be where the first privately owned stores open.

The province is currently reviewing 229 paid applications for pot store licenses — all which will need local government support to proceed.

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No Quick Approval For Pot Shops

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