By Roy L Hales
The Strathcona Regional District is preparing Cortes Island‘s impending cannabis bylaw.
Proposed bylaw discussed
Although recreational cannabis was officially legalized by the federal government in 2018, there is no provision for this in Cortes Island’s existing bylaws.
As Cortes Island Regional Director Noba Anderson explained, at the recent SRD Board meeting, “This is a long time coming. We’ve got zoning updates for cannabis production and sale in both areas C and D and this is just wanting to come into alignment with the Federal allowances that are, I think, over two and a half years old now. I’m just asking that a bylaw be prepared so that we are not criminalize otherwise legal behaviour.”
Map of the five municipalities and four electoral areas in the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) – courtesy SRD website
The SRD Board votes
There was only one dissenting vote.
Gerald Whalley, the Regional Director for Area A, explained, “I recognize that the Federal and Regional governments legalized this. In my way of thinking, that doesn’t make it right.”
Recommendation for Pacific Seaweed
The SRD is also recommending the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch issue a non-medical cannabis retail store license to Pacific Seaweed in Oyster River (in Area D).
There was only one opposing vote, so that motion also carried.