City Council's work on marijuana issues for Prince Rupert to resume in October

With legalization of marijuana across Canada fast approaching, Prince Rupert City Council is set to deliver some of their work on how the City of Prince Rupert will approach the issue, with plans in motion to outline the city's framework plan as part of their October Council meeting.

Mayor Lee Brain provided the heads up yesterday, while appearing on the Northern View podcast, though he didn't really tip the city's hand all that much during the appearance.

Mr. Brain noted that much of the discussion thus far has taken place during in camera  (closed) workshop sessions of council, though the Mayor did offer up notice that some of the results of that council work will be delivered following Thanksgiving.

The Mayor also stressed that just because cannabis will be legalized on October 17th, that doesn't mean that would be retailers can automatically open a business on that date.

He noted that there will be a range of federal and provincial regulations to navigate, with the Mayor also observing that council hopes to have a process and framework for the municipal plans in place by the end of December.

Council next meets in public session on October 9th, the final gathering before the Civic election that could change some of the faces around the Council chamber.

At that session, Rupertites may learn more about the city's focus when it comes to marijuana use in the city and the commercial opportunities that could be made available, as well as what further community engagement that the city has planned.

Until Council meets on the 9th, or more notes on the plan are shared prior to the Council session, you can review the work that City Council explored towards the issue last year below:

2017

December 11 -- Council to host Public Hearing on Marijuana zoning prohibition tonight
November 14 -- Council to hear request to extend Marijuana Operations prohibition Bylaw until July 2018
March 23 -- Council takes note of complaints related to Medicinal Grow Op Smells
February 8 -- Public Hearing offers community feedback as Prince Rupert Council moves forward on marijuana plans
January 6 -- Prince Rupert Council to tackle issue of Commercial Marijuana Dispensaries at Monday Session

For more items of note on City Council Discussion topics see our Council Archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.