Pot sales have been banned in rural areas of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District.
During its regular board meeting late last month, the regional district decided that it would amend zoning bylaws to stop marijuana from being sold in Electoral Areas A, B, C and D.
Director Tony Rainbow, who represents Area D, said the SLRD wanted to maintain control over where and when cannabis is sold.
This way, anyone who wishes to open a dispensary would have to approach the SLRD for a zoning amendment.
He previously noted that other municipalities, such as Squamish, have bylaws that allow them control over where pot is sold.
The SLRD is different, he said, in that it can only limit pot sales via zoning amendments because it doesn’t have the authority to give or take business licences — hence the blanket zoning ban of pot.
At the time the issue first was brought to the board, pot activist Dana Larsen told The Chief that the move was adding unnecessary red tape which singled out marijuana businesses.
Larsen said that he would prefer to see cannabis sellers treated the same way as any other retailer, especially given that legalization is expected in the near future.
The board voted to waive a public hearing on the amendments on the grounds that marijuana is currently illegal and the zoning bylaws are simply being updated to keep things consistent with existing law.
It is customary for a public hearing to be held when substantial zoning changes are being made.
