(File photo/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

By Elliott Knopp

Cannabis Zoning

Meadow Lake drafting bylaw amendment for new cannabis retailer

Oct 4, 2021 | 6:40 PM

The City of Meadow Lake has agreed to draft an amendment to a zoning bylaw that will open up an opportunity for a new cannabis retailer to operate in the community.

An application received by the city requests the current bylaw be amended to allow for retail cannabis sales to be permitted in the highway commercial zone. Currently, the bylaw only permits retail cannabis in the downtown commercial zone.

If successful, this presents an opportunity for Spruce Buds, a Saskatchewan-based cannabis retailer, to become only the second cannabis store in Meadow Lake.

City manager Diana Burton explained the recommendation to council is the amendment applies solely to Spruce Buds on a discretionary basis with potential restrictions, meaning any future cannabis retailers would need to file an application for the same benefit.

“In our minds, it does make sense to mirror both alcohol sales and cannabis retail sales, but we also realize that there may be a political side of things, so that’s why the recommendation is that council give direction to draft an amendment to the zoning bylaw,” Burton said.

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Back in 2018 when cannabis was legalized, council debated whether the highway commercial zone would be suitable, but opted to only allow cannabis sales in the downtown commercial zone.

At the time, former-Mayor Gary Vidal stated limiting cannabis sales to the downtown commercial zone would be a better move as it would keep the business away from schools and playgrounds. He added it would be easier to expand permission to operate in other areas at a later date, rather than rescinding it.

In a letter to council, expansion specialist Jason Keeling stated a case for allowing another cannabis retailer in the community, saying the business would create value for the City of Meadow Lake.

“We are focused on Northern Saskatchewan stores and have a strong focus to buy from suppliers and growers who operate in the province of Saskatchewan,” he stated.

“We believe this helps promote and support the local community and quality products produced in our province.”

The amendment will be presented at the next city council meeting scheduled for Oct. 12 where the city will conduct a first reading. Afterward, the amendment will be advertised for two weeks ahead of a public hearing set to take place at the next council meeting.

If the bylaw is adopted, any proposed changes would take effect on the following day.

—
elliott.knopp@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ElliottKnopp