Interest Growing in Vernon Pot Shops

By Corey Fischer

Jan 9, 2019 | 6:00 AM

More proponents have made bids to open legal pot shops in Vernon.

The City has received 11 applications so far, which are now being looked over by staff.

Mayor Victor Cumming says the best ones will be brought to council in February for possible approval.

“I think the number of applications are going to grow. The city has now set where these can be, and they are within mainly of our commercial zones,” Cumming tells Beach Radio News.

Cumming says council hasn’t set a cap on the number of stores — but says they do want to be careful about the number.

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“It’s like a shoe store. We don’t regulate how many shoe stores, and in this case, we’ll be careful just how may retail marijuana stores there are.”

Cumming is not sure how many will make it through the staff review.

“Staff are going through each one of those applications, and they will begin to come to council over the next three to four weeks,” adds Cumming.

Unlike some cities, the mayor says Vernon won’t require a public hearing for each application.

“That not the way it’s designed at this point. It might be something council chooses to do, but they don’t require a public hearing if they are consistent with the zoning,” says Cumming.

Councils in Enderby and Lake Country have already given approval to retail cannabis stores, but none have opened in the Okanagan as yet.

by Corey Fischer