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The future of pot licensing for cannabis stores now that weed is being legalized

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VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – Politicians and marijuana industry insiders say the day pot becomes legal in Canada on Oct. 17 the clock starts ticking on the future of cannabis dispensaries already open across the country.

For those pot stores, the marijuana business gets real as provincial licensing, monitoring and approval regulations on legal marijuana retail standards become law.

Vancouver City Councillor Kerry Jang says these are the same people who cried out for legalization and now they’ve got to play by the rules.

It’s unclear how many dispensaries are operating across Canada, but Vancouver was the first to move to regulate the industry when the illegal shops grew past 100 and it imposed strict regulations and a licence fee of almost $32,000.

Victoria started regulating pot dispensaries two years ago, and that city’s mayor, Lisa Helps, says she expects the stores that successfully navigated the city’s licence process will stand a greater chance of getting provincial approval.

“What I am is relieved that the province is going to be stepping into the space that the city has been regulating on its own and that they’ll be taking over the administration of cannabis just like they administer alcohol and I think that’s the right level of government to be doing so,” adds Helps.

That won’t be the case in Ontario, where police have been cracking down on the pot stores as the former provincial government decided to allow sales only in the Ontario Cannabis Store.

Shopify to provide e-commerce platform for online BC cannabis sales

British Columbia has selected Shopify to provide an e-commerce platform for the online sale of non-medical cannabis in the province.

The Liquor Distribution Branch, which will be the sole wholesale distributor and public retailer of cannabis, says the Ottawa-based company was selected because of its proven record of on-time service, user-friendly design and approach to anticipating consumer needs.

“Shopify was chosen for its proven record of on-time execution, user-friendly design and long-term approach to anticipating consumer needs beyond the implementation phase,” explains Blain Lawson, LDB’s general manager and CEO. “Every decision we make, as we introduce cannabis to our business, is underpinned by the social responsibility we have to our communities, to prevent minors from accessing cannabis, to reduce the criminal element, and to prioritize the health and safety of our customers.”

Shopify was chosen following a request for proposals earlier this year.

It will create two separate websites to fulfill online orders: one for consumers, and another for private retail stores to verify the age of purchasers on the BC Cannabis Stores’ retail website.

Couriers will also verify the age of buyers at delivery.

At-store pickup of online orders is being considered.

Vancouver pot shop pushes to stay open

A Downtown Vancouver pot shop has lost its latest bid to stay open.

A BC Supreme Court judge has upheld the city’s Board of Variance decision ordering the closure of Vancity Weed on Granville Street near Davie Street.

Lawyers for the dispensary tried to have the 2016 ruling overturned, but the judge sided with bylaw officers who determined the shop is less than 300 metres away from a daycare and the Gathering Place Community Centre.

It’s also walking distance from a Covenant House shelter for homeless teens.

Public Safety Minister says BC is ready for legal pot

BC’s Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth says now that the bill has finally passed, provinces and territories can look forward to what the “official regulations” will be.

“The province will be ready, we’ll have our framework in place. Once C-45 has been given royal assent then we will have the time to ensure that the federal regulations are in place in terms of what it means for the province,” he says.

“So that’s critical. The fact that that’s done means now we can move ahead with some of the key aspects with provincial legislation.”

Farnworth says there’s still a lot of work ahead for the province, adding Bill C-46, the drug impaired driving legislation has to be passed as well.

“The province has been training police officer in the use of drug impaired technology and getting ready for it, but there’s a lot of questions that we’re still waiting for answer from the federal government.”

He says the passing of C-45 gives BC a more solid foundation to work from, but it likely won’t be smooth sailing whenever pot is officially legal.

“The fact of the matter is that is it’s going to take two to three years before we see a fully implemented legalization system with all the kinks and all the issues ironed out. This is a huge change in public policy but we will certainly be ready for the legalization date and it’ll continue to evolve from that.”

~With files from Cormac MacSweeney

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