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West Van bans pot shops... for now

When recreational marijuana hits the marketplace on Oct. 17, West Vancouver residents will have to go elsewhere to partake.
pot

When recreational marijuana hits the marketplace on Oct. 17, West Vancouver residents will have to go elsewhere to partake.

Council voted unanimously Monday night to amend the district’s zoning bylaw to prohibit the sale and production of cannabis, at least until they’ve had time to develop some homegrown rules of their own.

But planning director Jim Bailey described the approach as “prohibition light” because would-be pot proprietors will still be allowed to apply for individual rezonings, which council may OK on a case-by-case basis. And, Bailey added, staff will return this fall with a process that should give council some guidelines to follow when it comes to who may sell and where (although likely not until after the next election).

So far about five or six cannabis retailers have expressed an interest in doing business in West Vancouver, according to district staff.

The decision followed a public hearing, which saw a handful of supporters and detractors of local pot outlets speak up with stark warnings.

Mark Elyas urged council not to undermine provincial and federal governments’ priority of cutting organized crime out of the weed business. “What municipalities can do in order to combat these criminals is create access to cannabis in their own municipalities,” he said.

Elyas suggested West Vancouver should be hosting about a dozen pot shops, to keep it about even with the number of liquor stores and wine stores. “I urge you to get a move on because legalization is happening and the municipalities that do not have cannabis retail stores are going to be hotbeds for organized criminals, and we don’t want the North Shore to turn into Surrey and Langley and places where there are a lot of shootings.”

Pot smoke is already pervasive in West Vancouver, noted Kieran Forristal, who works in the legal cannabis industry. Without access to local goods, West Van pot smokers will also likely be inhaling some mould, mildew, heavy metals, pesticides and possibly worse, with product that hasn’t been through federal regulations and inspection, he added.

“Personally, I haven’t been to a barbecue, Christmas party, or Hollyburn Country Club event where I haven’t seen it or smelt it,” he said. “If you don’t take proactive steps early in this stage, you’re going to make this place a dumping ground for the illegal market and the dangerous stuff.”

Not all agreed though. Demetre Kondopulos urged council to make the ban permanent, calling legalization “the impending opening of the Pandora’s box.” With studies showing detrimental impacts on the teenage brain from pot use, easing local access “could really destroy a generation,” he noted. “I congratulate you for taking the initiative to rein in this madness. ... Please be adamant. Be difficult. Establish roadblocks and try to limit the damage, which legalization by the federal government may produce in the future of West Vancouver.”

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City of North Vancouver planning technician Emily Macdonald speaks with a resident at the city's public input meeting at North Vancouver city hall. The city is asking residents to fill out a survey at cnvsurveys.ca/recreational-cannabis-policy-survey

Council’s vote on the temporary ban was unanimous though. “As an interim policy, I understand why staff want to see how things develop when legalization comes and how other municipalities deal with it. But I feel like we will need to put in place some measures to allow and control distribution in our community. Obviously I want to hear from the community on this matter,” said Coun. Craig Cameron. “But in the long term, I certainly see we’re going to need to deal with this problem with our eyes open and not try to wish it away.”

The City and District of North Vancouver are both carrying out public consultations for their pot bylaws this summer.

West Vancouver’s delayed reaction time was characteristic of the municipality, Coun. Nora Gambioli noted. “I think staff are on the right track, and we’re moving forward, but as per usual, a little on the slow side,” she said.