By Corey Fischer

Update: One Pot Shop Facing Action

Jun 12, 2018 | 12:45 PM

Update:

The City of Vernon has given four cannabis retailers until this Friday to stop sales.

The four stores failed to register a covenant on their property which was part of the city’s regulations for getting a temporary business permit.

The City says three of the stores have agreed to close or discontinue sales, while the fourth, an online delivery-only retailer, has not agreed and is subject to enforcement proceedings.

“Given concerns that existing cannabis retailers may be able to argue “grandfathered” status if they are allowed to remain open as the legislation is passed, many communities are closing the shops altogether. Council’s approach ensures that participating cannabis retailers in Vernon have an opportunity to remain open, and that Council will ultimately have control over where in Vernon the shops are permitted to operate long term,” says a City news release.

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The unnamed business could be subject to fines of $1,000 a day, and court action, if they keep operating after Friday.

June 11 story:

The City of Vernon is expected to announce later this week what action it will be taking on non-compliant pot shops in the city.

The stores now have until this Friday to register a covenant on their property in order to get a temporary business permit.

“They’ve all been sent letters, and we’ll wait for the June 15th deadline date. You can’t comment on something that hasn’t happened yet, so as of June 15th, we’ll have a better idea,” Mayor Akbal Mund told Beach Radio News.

Mund says three of the 14 dispensaries have not registered, but they’re not saying which ones at this point.

“There is no need to release the names of the businesses. That’s between the business and bylaw right now, so we’ll leave it there.”

The stores face closure and stiff fines under a city bylaw, if they fail to register.

The business permits would be in effect until new federal and provincial regulations take effect later this year when recreational cannabis use is legalized.

by Corey Fischer