The City of Delta’s biggest neighbour has finally opened the door to allow cannabis retail stores in their city.
Last week, Surrey council gave the green light for eight operators to apply for rezoning and a business licence to open 12 different cannabis shops.
Two stores would be set up in each of the city neighbourhoods of Cloverdale, Whalley/City Centre, Guildford, Fleetwood, Newton and South Surrey.
It’s been a long process as the city first established a framework for regulating cannabis retail stores that initially limits the number of store locations up to two retail stores per designated community.
The restrictions include, among other things, a minimum of 200-metres from sensitive uses, as measured from the front door of the store to the nearest property line of the sensitive use location.
This summer, Surrey issued a request for proposals for businesses and individuals interested in submitting an Expressions of Interest/Statements of Qualifications.
The City of Delta, meanwhile, already had eight cannabis stores spread out across Ladner, Tsawwassen, North Delta and industrial areas.
Delta council approved a ninth dispensary in an industrial area in the 7300-block of River Road earlier this year.
The regulation of non-medical cannabis retail stores is overseen by the province’s Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch through the issuance of licenses. A proposal must be supported by the host local government.
Prior to the federal government legalizing cannabis in 2018, Delta council prohibited dispensaries and processing, except where approved by council on a case-by-case basis.
In late 2022, Delta council agreed to impose a moratorium on accepting and reviewing any further applications beyond the nine that were on the books.
Another neighbouring Delta jurisdiction, the City of New Westminster, has also long permitted cannabis retail sales, and that city council more recently agreed to explore the concept of allowing micro-retailing.
However, one of Delta’s other neighbours, the City of Richmond, continues to ban retail medical and non-medical cannabis shops.
A motion by Coun. Carol Day last year asked that the issue, including access to medical marijuana, be referred to Richmond city staff, but her motion was defeated in a council vote.
Retail cannabis shops are permitted to make deliveries within their own cities and anywhere throughout the Lower Mainland, including Richmond.
