While recreational cannabis use is now legal in Canada, Vernon pot shops are still months away from being licensed to legally sell the product under the new regulatory regime.
The private sale of recreational marijuana in B.C. will require a provincial licence; prospective retailers will need the support of local governments to make that happen.
In Vernon’s case, the city said the earliest it can process licence applications is January, but there is no word on how long it might take for the province to grant them after that.
“What we are doing is unprecedented on the planet. We are legalizing cannabis across the board and the federal government, the provincial government and the municipal government all have regulations that they need to develop to make that happen for a use that is brand new to all of us,” said Kim Flick, director of community infrastructure development at the City of Vernon.
The news comes as many Vernon pot shops shut their doors pending licensing.
Megan Turcato – Global News – October 17, 2018.