The City of Vernon will be undertaking amendments to its Zoning Bylaw to prepare for the sale of non-medicinal cannabis, which is expected to become legal in Canada in July 2018. The purpose of these amendments is to ultimately allow for the City to regulate where storefront sales of cannabis will be permitted following this legalization. This process will begin following confirmation from the Government of British Columbia of what the distribution and sales model for cannabis distribution will be in the province.
Prior to this confirmation, the City will be amending its Zoning Bylaw to explicitly prohibit the storefront sale of cannabis, which is still not legal in Canada. Cannabis dispensaries operating in the city will be given an opportunity to apply for a temporary use permit, allowing them to continue to operate until the distribution and sale model for cannabis is determined by the Province and the City has completed its bylaw amendments.
Once the Government of British Columbia confirms its sales and distribution model for cannabis distribution, the City will explore what amendments to its Zoning Bylaw, and any other bylaws, will be required to regulate where storefront sales of cannabis can be located in the city. Once these amendments are adopted, all dispensaries will have to comply with the City’s Zoning Bylaw.
For more information, please contact Kim Flick, Director, Community Infrastructure and Development at 250-550-3594 or at kflick@vernon.ca.