Get the Top, Local stories delivered to your inbox! Click here to join the daily Vernon Matters newsletter.

Vernon Mayor Welcomes Diverse Opinions On Pot Shops

Jan 23, 2018 | 9:51 AM

Vernon’s Mayor was satisfied with the turnout and comments at Monday night’s public hearing on the city’s proposed marijuana bylaw.

Akbal Mund says some good points were made, though some regarding quality and employees pay are better directed to the federal and provincial governments.

“It’s not just dispensaries. There are other people who do the same too. I just want to make sure that when it’s said dispensaries don’t pay their employees properly or file their taxes, there are other businesses that do the same.”

” You know, there’s obviously some people who aren’t going to be happy with this. As we all know, there’s always two sides to a confrontation. We decided as a council as a whole, we’re in full agreement that this is the best move at the time.”

But the Mayor is confident city inspections will be enough to ensure marijuana shops in town meet city regulations.

The city will take a look at the comments that were made Monday night before  final adoption of the bylaw, but he’s holding off on any suggestion it might have to be tweaked later.

“We’ll wait for the provincial government to let us know what we can do. Then we can sit down as a council and say, okay, this is how we’re going to proceed. We’ll do it for the rights of everybody out there”

Council gave 3rd reading to the bylaw, which would see temporary use permits for existing shops and city inspections of them.

No new shops would be allowed at this time.

A vote will come at a later council meeting