Peachland to limit pot sales

Photo: Contributed

The District of Peachland is finally ready to make some decisions concerning the sale of legal, non-medical cannabis within its boundaries.

The municipality waited until the release of its citizen's survey, which specifically asked residents to weigh in on the matter.

Following results of the survey, council is being asked to limit the number of cannabis retail stores within the municipality to two.

Given the strength of the responses from residents with respect to limiting the number of stores within the district, staff recommends that the number of recreational cannabis stores be limited to two, a report for council states.

It says limiting it to one location would create a monopoly, while the community does not have an appetite for three.

"Additionally, the community has been successful in supporting two liquor stores suggesting that the equivalent number of cannabis stores is feasible."

It is also being suggested council restrict retail locations to downtown, Beach Avenue and Clements neighbourhoods.

As for consumption of cannabis in public spaces, while half of respondents to both an open and closed survey supported a total public ban, staff suggested because of the difficulty in enforcement and potential for unintended consequences, a total ban was not recommended.

Council will discuss a series of bylaws surrounding the sale, consumption and cultivation of non-medical, and medical cannabis at its next meeting Tuesday.