With recreational pot set to be legal Oct. 17, Port Coquitlam residents are being asked how and where they want cannabis sales to roll out.
The municipality is seeking public input by Oct. 1 to design new policies to control cannabis dispensaries in PoCo.
City officials are suggesting a similar approach to how liquor sales are handled — that is, with retail shops at least one kilometre apart, and 200 metres away from schools, playgrounds, community centres and sports fields.
To have your say, take the online survey at portcoquitlam.ca/cannabis or attend the open house on Wednesday, Sept. 26, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Gathering Place in Leigh Square Community Arts Village (beside PoCo city hall); city staff will be available to answer questions at the meeting.
Should the city policies be approved later this year, businesses will be required to go through a rezoning for site-specific applications, which also require a public hearing.
Further, city council may also require permitted cannabis shops to post smoking restrictions signs, install air filtration systems and create a storefront in character with the neighbourhood.
As well, customers won’t be allowed to sample or use cannabis on site.
Meanwhile, Coquitlam municipal staff are now putting together a consultation strategy to gather public feedback on its cannabis outlets, said major project planner Chris McBeath.
To receive email notifications and learn more about the process in Coquitlam, visit coquitlam.ca/cannabis.
As for Port Moody, city council will look at a plan for cannabis retail sales at its Sept. 25 meeting and, if approved, the public consultation will launch in November with council reviewing the feedback in January.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
