Not in city's best interest

As an entrepreneur looking to make an investment in Penticton, I am discouraged by the idea that council is considering restricting legal business and investment dollars from entering the city.  The following points highlight why this locational prohibition for legal retail cannabis should not be passed:

Safety/Youth

Federal, provincial and municipal governments have enacted extensive and sufficient regulations to protect youth from exposure. From a public consumption standpoint, the City of Penticton has adopted a smoking bylaw that prohibits public consumption of cannabis. A prohibition on Main Street and Front Street will not in any way serve to diminish those who choose to disobey the bylaw. I believe the opposite may hold true, in that forcing these businesses to the fringe of society will only serve to reduce the level of public scrutiny/accountability.

Views of Residents and Businesses

Legal business should not be prevented from making investment for no apparent rationale – if a locational prohibition is enacted by the city, it will be the only municipality to implement such a policy. The chamber of commerce and Downtown Penticton Association do not support a retail cannabis prohibition on Main Street and Front Street. The City of Penticton Cannabis Survey results indicate 59 per cent of residents support cannabis retail on the southern portion of Main Street and Skaha Road while 56 per cent support cannabis retail in the downtown on Main Street and Front Streets. Despite the similar public levels of support, the city policy only prohibits cannabis retail downtown.

Building Aesthetics

Concern regarding storefront aesthetics is unwarranted, as these stores do not present any differently than any other business. In fact, it is more likely that they will provide for a higher quality of retail experience than say the adult sex stores, tattoo parlours or pawn shops that operate on Main Street or Front Street. One needs only to look to the BC Cannabis Store in Kamloops to see this first hand. The city has control over store appearances, as the Retail Cannabis Policy requires building elevations and details guidelines for signage and building aesthetics as part approval process.

I believe that if the city wants to attract high quality businesses and investment, a locational prohibition that serves no other purpose than to thwart investment in Penticton is not in anyone’s best interest. 

Mike Poulton, Penticton