The SLRD has sent out a wishlist to the province about how to address the legalization of marijuana.
Concerns were sent out in a letter signed by chair Jack Crompton, who highlights three main points in the document.
First, local governments should have authority to establish zoning regulations regarding pot. In other words, the “where, when and how of non-medical cannabis cultivation, sales and distribution,” the letter says.
The SLRD also expressed that local governments should be entitled to a share in tax revenue. The regional district suggests dividing cash equally between the federal, provincial and local governments.
It’s hoped that local governance will get more resources to deal with any increased costs that may occur with marijuana legalization. Some examples the letter gives are heftier prices for bylaw enforcement and increased policing costs.
However, the federal government has reached a deal that would see a 25-75 split, with the provinces taking the larger share and Ottawa taking the rest.
As municipalities are overseen by the provincial government in B.C., it appears as if it will now be up to local governance and the province to arrive at a revenue-sharing agreement on the matter.
Finally, the letter asks that provincial regulations “should recognize that the impacts on regional district electoral areas will be different from the impacts on municipalities.”
The SLRD asks the province to avoid a “one-size-fits-all” approach, given that electoral areas have lower population levels than municipalities and that they are more diverse in terms of geography and economics.
Also, the province should be mindful of the fact that the SLRD and other regional districts can’t issue business licenses, the letter says.
This is something to consider when regulating electoral areas.
An information report presented to the board after the letter was sent in November also notes that impaired driving is a greater challenge in rural areas, and regulations and education campaigns need to adapt accordingly.
The report also adds that research needs to be done on how legalized pot will fit in the Agricultural Land Reserve.
Finally, the document notes that personal cultivation may be popular in electoral areas, as properties are generally larger and people may be further from retailers.
Later in November, the board voted to provide more feedback to the province in another letter.
It’s expected that this document will ask Victoria to consider supporting personal cultivation limits.
The SLRD is also expected to voice its support for small local producers in rural areas and to ask that a rural-friendly distribution system is implemented.
Adding in options for mail order is one example.
Finally, the regional district will be asking for economic policies that will give people an incentive to abandon the underground market.
