Zoning Bylaw amendments to be adopted in preparation of cannabis legalization

Under federal legislation, cannabis will become legal on October 17, 2018. In anticipation, amendments to the Zoning Bylaw have been prepared and are currently on Council's agenda for adoption at the meeting scheduled for October 1, 2018. If adopted, the bylaw will permit cannabis production and processing in the I4 Industrial Zone and micro cannabis production in the Light and Highway Industrial zones (I1 and I2). Cannabis retail will be permitted through site-specific rezoning.

For those interested in operating a cannabis retail store, site-specific rezoning is only one step in the process. Before the City will accept an application to rezone the property, a pre-application meeting with staff is required and confirmation that an application for a non-medical cannabis retail licence has been submitted to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch.

"Staff has worked hard to prepare for October 17, but legalization is only the start," said, Heidi Davidson, Manager of Permit Centre and Business Licensing, "Based on all the phone and email enquiries, it's anticipated that staff will be busy with pre-application meetings and processing rezoning and business licence applications once received."

Further information about the cannabis retail store application requirements is available on the City's website at www.nanaimo.ca. Look for the Cannabis Retail link under the Doing Business tab.

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Contact:

Heidi Davidson
Manager, Permit Centre and Business Licensing
City of Nanaimo
250-755-4448

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