By Justine Kelsie

Grande Prairie Councillor not on board proposed business license cap for cannabis retail

Jun 11, 2018 | 12:29 PM

City Council will be making some more decisions surrounding marijuana in Grande Prairie later this month.

Although the city is encouraging people to speak up on their opinions beforehand, there hasn’t been much feedback yet, according to Councillor Dylan Bressey. On June 18, Land Use Bylaws, personal cultivations, and Business License Bylaws will be looked at.

“I definitely want to hear from them and I know council shares the same opinion. We definitely want to hear your thoughts. We want to make some bylaws that balance the needs of our businesses and our community along with the youth and residents. To make good bylaws with a thing that is unchartered territory for us, we really need input from people,” said Bressey.

He says the “liberal approach” councillors are taking is the right way to go when it comes to where businesses will be able to set up shop. He was also in favour of the Smoke-Free Playgrounds Bylaw that was tweaked at a previous meeting.

“I think we should be taking a very permissive approach to retail locations. I am concerned about legalization (of marijuana) in general, but I don’t think location will contribute to overconsumption.”

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Bressey isn’t convinced that a 10-business license cap for the first year of legalization is the right way to do things.

“I don’t like us picking 10 businesses. I would rather have businesses competing to see who can have the most knowledgeable staff and best-looking location instead of just picking some at random.”

Bressey encourages people to read about the bylaws and contact a councillor or Mayor Bill Given about their concerns or questions. Residents can email council@cityofgp.ca or call the Citizen Contact Centre at 780-538-0300 to connect with someone.