Cannabis has been legal in Canada for more than a month but the city of Port Moody is beginning its consultation to determine how, where and whether it should be sold in the city.
Today (Tuesday), the city launched a special web page with information about federal and provincial cannabis regulations, along with local guidelines about land use and business licenses for possible cannabis retail stores in Port Moody. Residents and business operators can then fill out an online form with their thoughts or submit them on a paper form that is available from city hall.
There will also be an open house where city staff can answer questions on Wednesday, Nov. 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. at city hall.
Currently, cannabis sales aren’t allowed in Port Moody and the smoking of pot is regulated by the same bylaws that govern smoking. Those prohibit smoking in city parks as well as within 7.5 metres of any public door, window or air intake. A bylaw regulating hookah lounges, where non-tobacco products can be smoked, was also amended last summer to prohibit the smoking of cannabis in such clubs.
“The legalization of cannabis will affect many areas within the city’s regulations,” said a report by Port Moody’s manager of building, bylaw and licensing, Robyn MacLeod, that was prepared for council last June.
Results of the survey will be collected until Dec. 9 and then presented to council in January when it considers proposed regulations.
