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Vancouver Wraps Hearings On Medical-Pot Bylaws; Council Debate Set For Wednesday

The Canadian Press, 23 Jun, 2015 10:18 AM

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson says city councillors could decide on regulating the illegal medical-marijuana industry as early as Wednesday.

Councillors wrapped up four days of public hearings on amendments to licensing, zoning and development bylaws on Monday night.

Those proposed amendments would, for example, charge "retail dealers" a $30,000 licensing fee and prohibit them from operating within 300 metres of schools, community centres or other pot shops.

Selling marijuana over the counter, whether it's dried or baked in a brownie, remains illegal, but the city has seen dispensaries grow over the last three years from fewer than 20 to 94.

The city has previously blamed the federal government's strict medical marijuana laws for that increase, but Health Canada has also warned Vancouver against its proposal.

Robertson closed the public hearing, thanking local residents for their input, and telling the public that councillors would debate and decide on the issue Wednesday.

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