A marijuana plant is seen before harvesting at a rural area near Corvallis, Ore. in this Sept. 30, 2016 file photo.
Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Andrew Selsky
August 23, 2018 - 4:20 PM
KELOWNA - Tourists wandering down Leon or Lawrence Avenues looking for a little bud after legalization will be out of luck, if Kelowna council follows staff recommendations.
Citing the number of social service agencies in the neighbourhood and ongoing attempts at area revitalization, staff are recommending no cannabis stores be allowed on those streets between Abbott and Bertram Streets.
That’s just one of several recommendations pertaining to retail distribution, production and consumption of cannabis contained in a report by planner Kimberly Brunet council will consider next week.
Such stores must be 150 metres from elementary schools and certain parks while middle and high schools must be half a kilometre away.
Community planning has received a significant number of inquiries about retail cannabis sales and staff want council to endorse a standardized application process.
A multi-department evaluation committee will use a scoring matrix to determine who gets the licenses. Staff want to begin accepting applications Oct. 1, 2018 and close them Nov. 30 to begin evaluation.
The federal government has said cannabis will be legal as of October 17, 2018.
Cannabis production facilities will require a 60-metre setback from residential properties and will need both a federal production license and a Kelowna business license to operate.
Consumption would mimic the parks and public spaces bylaw which already forbids smoking or vaping in any park or public space except in a designated smoking area.
Staff have also clarified with the Agricultural Land Reserve that cannabis production cannot be prohibited if lawfully growing in an open field in a structure that has a soil base and was built on or before July 13, 2018.
Kelowna council will consider the recommendations at the public meeting, 1:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 27 at Kelowna city hall.
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