Pass along your pot puffing position to city

Input sought on recreational cannabis sales on Westside

What restrictions should be placed on retail cannabis shops in the City of West Kelowna? The public is being asked to provide feedback by completing a short survey by July 31.

On October 17, non-medical cannabis sales will be permitted under Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act; medical use will continue as per usual under federal regulations. In B.C., municipalities will have authority to regulate certain aspects of non-medical retail sales including: zoning and other land use regulations, such as distances between stores, parks and schools; business licensing, including restrictions on hours of operation; and further restrictions on where smoking and vaping can occur in public.

Westkelownacity.ca/cannabissurvey has the survey online, but paper copies are available at City Hall, 2760 Cameron Rd., for those unable to complete the questionnaire online.

Business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Feedback will be used to create potential bylaw amendments for council’s consideration.

For comparison, the City of Kelowna says pot shops can’t be within 500 metres of a secondary school, 150 metres of an elementary school, and no two pot shops can be closer than one kilometre apart. Based on that criteria, Kelowna could expect to license 20 pot shops this year.