Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK
September 16, 2019 - 4:56 PM
VERNON - Despite self-imposed moratoriums on the number of cannabis retail stores in Vernon, city council has approved another pot shop.
Vernon council approved the opening of the non-medical cannabis store on Anderson Way — the 17th pot shop approved by council — at a meeting today, Sept. 16.
Although Vernon council placed a moratorium barring the opening of any more pot shops in the city in July, council voted to accept this application as the business owner's original application had been blocked twice by a moratorium on pot shops opening within the city.
According to a city staff report, the applicant originally applied to open a store downtown in the Business Improvement Area earlier this year and had received approval in principle from the province. Before the application could be heard by the City, council passed a moratorium limiting the number of pot shops to six within the downtown core, which affectively quashed the business's plans to open.
The applicant then found another property outside of the downtown core and on July 26 attempted to have their application with the province transferred to this address, only to be told a brand new application had to be made.
Three days later Vernon council placed a moratorium on any more cannabis stores opening in the city for the next two years.
A spokesperson for the applicant previously appeared before council to argue the case that because of the circumstances the application should be allowed to go before council even though a moratorium existed.
Today council voted unanimously in favour of the cannabis store.
The new pot shop is slated for 115 - 5100 Anderson Way. The application still needs provincial approval.
Council received one letter of objection to the store opening and one letter stating their interests were unaffected.
To date, the City has received 22 applications to open pot shops and approved 17. Currently, only two cannabis stores have opened, Spiritleaf, which opened on Canada Day and The Greenhorn, which opened in August.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2019