The Town of Qualicum Beach is beginning a 24-month pilot project for a retail cannabis store.
According to a news release from the town, it is leasing a portion of the old fire hall building, located at 124 Harlech Rd., to the “first cannabis retail outlet in Qualicum Beach.” The town is also ensuring it will be the only cannabis retail outlet in Qualicum Beach for two years.
The proponent, QualiCanna Ltd., was selected during a request for proposals for the building in March, 2018. However, the news release reads that the town was “not specifically soliciting retail cannabis proposals, but council ultimately authorized the lease for a number of strategic reasons.”
Town CAO Daniel Sailland said the store isn’t open yet, and the opening date will be established closer the federal legalization date which is Oct. 17.
As the old fire hall is a town-owned building, Sailland said it will allow for a greater oversight and control of QauliCanna’s operations.
Sailland said being the landlord for the business “increases the control” of the town and makes town staff “more comfortable with that
“It allows us to understand the impact of this industry becoming legal and becoming available over-the-counter in the town, so for us to have a better understanding of the impacts of that is important.
“Of course, being a landlord for the issue also gives us a better understanding.”
Sailland said he doesn’t think it would be a conflict of interest having the town leasing to the only retail cannabis store in the town.
“As a landlord, we feel more comfortable introducing this industry to the town through our own property.”
In the news release, Sailland said leasing this location will also provide a revenue stream “to support any increased burden on the Town’s bylaw compliance department.”
While Qualicum Beach zoning bylaws don’t allow cannabis sales anywhere within the town, this store will be given a 24-month temporary-use permit.
“The permit will specify conditions to minimize any negative community impact, such as limited hours of operation, restrictions on window displays and indoor/outdoor security,” according to the release.
The town will be monitoring the business and its impact on the surrounding area during the trial period. The town can terminate the lease at any point if the temporary-use permit terms are violated.
After the two-year trial period, the town can consider long-term locations for a marijuana retail outlet.
The news release states that the town does not intend to authorize any additional locations for marijuana stores during the pilot project.
While the province has announced the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch will be the sole wholesaler distributor of non-medical cannabis, Sailland said it’s staff understanding at this point that the BCLDB hasn’t indicated whether or not it would be selling cannabis in the B.C. Liquor Stores.
“The province always trumps what we do locally. So if the province was issuing any marijuana sales through the B.C. Liquor (Stores), then that would be there choice and we would have a discussion with them at that time,” Sailland said.
Last fall, Qualicum Beach council voted against issuing a temporary-use permit for a medical marijuana dispensary at 675 Fir St. (to the left of Naked Naturals), with only two councillors, Neil Horner and Bill Luchtmeijer, voting in favour of the permit.
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Council received public input for the marijuana dispensary that was proposed by VanIsle Wellness Centre Ltd. Some said the location was too close to the high school while others said a medical marijuana facility was needed in the community.
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