Sign up for the battlefordsNOW newsletter

Town of Battleford approves cannabis zoning bylaw

Apr 18, 2018 | 12:00 PM

The Town of Battleford approved a zoning amendment bylaw for any future potential cannabis retail outlets and grow operations at its meeting Monday.

No one objected at a public hearing before council carried second and third reading of the bylaw.

“We received no objections via telephone or mail,” said Mayor Ames Leslie following council. “Nobody has come down personally and objected to the cannabis bylaw, so at this point it looks like other people are not voicing their opinion, or they were not against anything that was presented by the town.”

The bylaw indicates that a cannabis retail outlet would be permitted in the highway commercial district or as a discretionary use in the downtown district. If an outlet is being considered for the downtown district, it would need council’s approval first before it could go ahead.

A cannabis grow operation would be permitted only in the northwest corner of the town limits.

The bylaw also states any retail outlet or grow operation facility must be approved under federal and provincial regulations.

The bylaw also says that cannabis retail stores must maintain a 150-metre setback from schools and playgrounds.

Any signage for cannabis retail stores or grow operations must not contain any images.

In his written report to council, CAO John Enns-Wind indicated the zoning amendments will keep cannabis operations away from areas where children and youth learn and play. 

The town will receive one licence for a cannabis retailer outlet. The succesful retailer will be chosen by the province by way of a lottery system.

The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) will be responsible for issuing retail permits to private operators in the province.

“Awarding the lottery hasn’t been fully finished yet, so we don’t know yet if anything has been awarded here for the town of Battleford,” said Leslie.

Recreational cannabis use is expected to be legalized across Canada this summer.

 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow