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The majority of downtown businesses are against having six marijuana dispensaries in the downtown core, according to a survey.
The Downtown Penticton Association sent out a survey to 400 members, asking whether they supported the city in handing temporary use permits to medical marijuana dispensaries, and received 108 responses.
City council is considering the applications for seven dispensaries, six of which are, or are proposed to be, in the downtown area, while one more is in the 1600 block of Main Street.
Members of the DPA were largely against the city approving some or all of the dispensaries, with 67 against and 41 in favour, citing a variety of reasons.
Many of the concerns appear to be the number of dispensaries making applications, which if all are approved, would place three within a block on Westminster Avenue and two over two blocks on Main Street.
Others were worried about the legality of the city attempting to regulate the dispensaries.
"Marijuana is officially still illegal," wrote one commenter. "Why are we handing out temporary permits for an illegal trade?"
Others said they are concerned about the quality of the product sold at the dispensaries, with a lack of oversight from regulators.
"It is impossible to ensure these dispensaries' sources are safe," wrote a respondent. "We cannot, at this time, be assured that the dispensaries' products or their operations are being inspected regularly, as is with alcohol and liquor permits."
The city also solicited comments from neighbours of each of the dispensaries, and of those who responded, seven were in favour of their local shop, while five were against.
"This emerging avenue of health care is forward thinking, yielding positive results, and will be an asset to any community when handled appropriately and responsibly," said Kasha Krisa.
Council will go over each of the dispensaries on a shop-by-shop basis during a public hearing on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m.
