To be introduced by Dale Lindsay, Director of Community Development.
Purpose: To provide Council with recommendations of the Cannabis Task Force regarding the regulation of production, distribution and consumption of cannabis in the City of Nanaimo.
Recommendations:
1. That Council direct Staff to prepare and introduce Zoning Bylaw amendments to clarify that Cannabis Retail Stores are separate use from retail.
2. That proposed Cannabis Retail Stores be required to submit site-specific rezoning applications.
3. That the attached rezoning criteria, including recommended minimum 300m from another Cannabis Retail Store, be considered for endorsement subject to receiving input from the Nanaimo School Board regarding recommended guidelines for separation from schools.
4. That specific business license fees for Cannabis Retail Stores not be established at this time and that business license fees for Cannabis Retail Stores be considered as part of any future review of liquor license fees.
5. That Council direct Staff to prepare and introduce Zoning Bylaw amendments to replace the existing use of “Medical Marihuana Growing and Production” with “Cannabis Production and Processing” and permit this as a use in the I4 (Industrial) Zone.
6. That Council direct Staff to prepare and introduce Zoning Bylaw amendments to allow small scale cannabis production in the I1 (Highway Industrial) and I2 (Light Industrial) zones subject to the development of an odour abatement strategy.
7. That cannabis production not be permitted in the Agricultural Rural Residential Zones (AR1 and AR2).
8. That no further restrictions be placed on the personal production of cannabis beyond those established by the Federal and Provincial Governments.
9. That Council adopt an updated and revised smoking bylaw to regulate the smoking of cannabis in public areas.
10. That Council direct Staff to refer the recommendations provided by the Cannabis Task Force to the School Board for input.
11. That Council direct Staff to complete a review of the cannabis-related bylaws and regulations one year following the adoption of the associated bylaws.