Burnaby could be among the first Lower Mainland cities to get a government pot shop.
The province’s Liquor Distribution Branch is eager to open B.C. Cannabis Stores in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island, areas known to have “discerning” cannabis customers, according to spokesperson Kate Bilney.
The new BC Cannabis Store in Kamloops (Photo by Bob Kronbauer)
And, she said, Burnaby’s cannabis bylaws make it a likely home for a such a store. The city’s zoning allows for only government stores and bars private retailers.
“Obviously, given that the City of Burnaby is so welcoming to public stores, that is certainly a positive for us,” Bilney said.
Burnaby’s bylaw allows for a maximum of four government stores in the city, one in each of its centres – Edmonds, Lougheed, Brentwood and Metrotown.
“We are investigating potential sites within those four areas,” Bilney said.
But, she said, no lease has been secured and the search for a suitable location is ongoing. Once one is found, the rezoning process with the city could take several more months, Bilney said.
Burnaby’s director of planning and building, Lou Pelletier, said city staff would review any rezoning application from the distribution branch and report it to council.
Outgoing mayor Derek Corrigan has previously said Burnaby is taking a cautious approach to legalization. By allowing a restricted number of government stores and disallowing private retailers, the city is taking a reasonable middle road, he said.
Mayor-elect Mike Hurley (who will be sworn in Monday, Nov. 5) has indicated he favours this approach and it will likely remain for the foreseeable future.
There is currently only one B.C. Cannabis Store. The Kamloops retailer opened on Oct. 17, the day recreational cannabis became legal across Canada.
B.C.’s Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch issued the first licence for a private retailer this week. As of Thursday, Tamarack Cannabis Boutique in Kimberley is the only private store legally allowed to sell recreational cannabis.
