The city is preparing to have its say on the location of a future cannabis store.
Tonight council will review a policy Drug Strategy Co-ordinator Cynthia Olsen says will lay out what staff should consider, when they respond once the Alcohol and Gaming Commission’s proposed site.
Submissions for retailers who want a license for a cannabis store closed on Friday, but the winning applicant and location have not been announced.
Olsen says the policy is a guideline for how they’ll judge the proposed site, including how close it should be to schools.
“It gives us an actual definition of the areas the municipality has identified as ‘sensitive use areas’ and the buffer zone [between stores and sensitive areas], and so a map was also created that will assist in making that preliminary screening.”
Sensitive areas also include community centres and other areas with programs for youth, centres that treat substance abuse or mental health issues, and waterways.
The AGCO gets the final say on where the store can set up, but residents and the city have 15 days to send in feedback that will be considered.
The policy says the Drug Strategy Co-ordinator will lead the city’s response on the proposed location.
