Photo: Colin Dacre

The now-closed Herbal Greens dispensary in OK Falls.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen plans at this point to remain in a "status quo" on where retail cannabis stores will be allowed in its rural areas.

Board members voted on Thursday to take the first steps towards allowing cannabis stores in any zone where "retail" is a permitted use. 

That decision effectively maintains the regional district's existing rules, which staff called the "status quo."

"Of concern with this approach is that it might result in cannabis retail store operations being proposed in unintended locations, given the province has indicated that it will provide exceptions in rural areas to operators who wish to sell cannabis in conjunction with other retail operations," a report from staff reads.

"This could, conceivably, result in cannabis retail sales occurring in a manufactured home park, a roadside fruit-stand, a neighbourhood corner store or a gas station."

Staff and board members indicated some limitations to the zoning will likely be enacted before cannabis is legalized on Oct. 17.

The decision by the board came after a lengthy discussion largely centred around staff's recommendation, which was to pursue limiting cannabis stores to the Naramata, OK Falls and Apex "town centres."

"I think if it's retail, it's retail, and we should have the application come here and decide at the time," Naramata director and board chair Karla Kozakevich said. "I don't think it's fair to be excluding other electoral areas from having this retail opportunity."

If board members had voted for staff's recommendation, retail stores wouldn't be banned from other rural areas in the regional district but potential storefronts would need to go through an extra rezoning process, which would have an additional fee.

Development services manager Brad Dollovoet said staff is hopeful to have zoning and bylaw changes ready when recreational cannabis is legalized on Oct. 17. 

He noted public consultation will take place before any proposed bylaw on the matter is adopted.