Retailers of recreational marijuana will need the support of local governments to set up shop, the B.C. government announced this week.
On Monday, the province confirmed a mixed retail model, where pot will be sold in privately-run stores, in a whole new chain of government-operated stores and online. Retailers will not be able to sell non-medical cannabis on the same shelf as liquor or tobacco.
“The B.C. government recognizes that retail access for people in rural areas will require a different approach than those used in urban communities and will establish exceptions for rural non-medical cannabis retail stores, similar to those of rural liquor stores,” reads a government press release. “The criteria for determining these rural areas are currently under development.”
The province plans to launch an early registration process this spring for people and businesses interested in applying for a cannabis retail licence. While there will be no cap on the number of available licences, both public and private retailers will need to get the green light from their municipality.
“I’d like to see that confirmed in the legislation to know how much power they give to municipalities to regulate it,” Lou Pelletier, the City of Burnaby’s director of planning and building, told the NOW. “If they do leave the zoning powers in place that we have for any use, then council will do a review and determine how it’s best to regulate it.”
Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth reiterated that the legal age of possession will be 19, with 30 grams being the limit in a public place. Anyone transporting pot in their car will need to have it in a sealed package.
As for where it can be smoked, the province said it’ll be permitted in public spaces where tobacco smoking and vaping are allowed. It will, however, be banned in areas frequented by children, including beaches, parks and playgrounds. Local governments, landlords and strata councils will also be able to set additional restrictions.
“If you look at cannabis, if you look at alcohol in the same light, where we tend to look for liquor establishments placed in the city, following the same sort of guidelines for cannabis would seem to make sense for everybody,” said Dave Critchley, Burnaby’s public safety director, when asked about how the city will go about determining a store’s location.
Users will be able to grow up to four cannabis plants per household, but the plants must not be visible from the street, according to the release.
Police, meanwhile, will be given more tools to remove drug-impaired drivers from the road, including a new 90-day driving ban.
“National legalization of non-medical cannabis represents an historic shift in public policy. This provincial regulatory framework provides a sound foundation to support the provincial goals that prioritize public health and safety,” said Farnworth.
The province will introduce legislation around these policy decisions in the spring. It will also launch a public awareness campaign to ensure everyone is informed about the new rules before they come into effect.
The federal government will legalize non-medical cannabis in July.
The details
*The Liquor Distribution Branch will be the wholesale distributor of non-medical cannabis in B.C.
*Non-medical cannabis will be sold in privately-run retail stores, overseen by the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch; in a new chain of government-operated retail stores operated by B.C.’s Liquor Distribution Branch; and in and government online sales. Stores will not be able to sell anything other than marijuana.
*Both public and private retailers will need to have local government support before the province issues them a licence.
*The legal age of consumption, like alcohol, will be 19. Users will be allowed to possess up to 30 grams in a public place. Pot being transported by car will need to be in a sealed package.
*Unlike liquor stores, where minors are allowed in if accompanied by an adult, minors will not be allowed in a cannabis retail store.
*Smoking pot will be prohibited in places frequented by kids, including beaches, parks and playgrounds.
*Users will be able to grow up to four marijuana plants per household (daycares not included).
*Drug impaired-driving will continue to be illegal in B.C. Anyone caught under the influence could face a new 90-day driving ban.
*Retailers will be able to sell dried cannabis, cannabis oils and seeds. Edibles are something the feds will regulate within one year of legalization.
