Surrey’s cannabis store motion sent back to staff

Surrey city council has balked at plans on approving retail cannabis stores in the community, for now.

Instead of giving the go-ahead to a pilot project, Mayor Brenda Locke and the rest of council chose to send the issue back to staff.

“I think an abundance of caution is always important when you’re dealing with controlled substances. So, for me, personally, I think making sure that we’re really limiting the number of stores moving forward. And I think, in many ways, I’m a bit of a prude maybe, but it’s unfortunate to me that this is legalized now, but it is. So we have to deal with this issue and I just think however staff can look to do it with, as you say, limiting the number of stores, it is best for our residents,” she said.

The initial plan presented to council Monday proposed a cannabis store in a city-owned space in Newton Town Centre on a trial basis. The plan was for the city, should it pass the motion, to then choose a business to operate the store as part of a pilot project.

The program, as it was presented, also proposed that the city impose a limit of one cannabis store in each of its six town centres. Not all of them would need to be on city-owned land, staff say, adding the city would be “in no way” operating these businesses, saying that would be left up to the companies that are chosen.

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The motion to refer the plan back to staff was brought forward by coun. Doug Elford, who said Monday night that more consultation was needed.

“I firmly believe that we should let the private industry run the retail business and I don’t think that Surrey should be actively involved as landlords in the cannabis industry. We’re not landlords for the liquor industry and I firmly believe that there’s better use for city lands, particularly affordable housing, for example. I think this should go back for a rework and consultation with the retail sector,” he said.

Other councillors agreed with the notion that Surrey should not be involved, and that it should be left to the private sector. Some cited concerns about the proposed location.

“We’re in a housing crisis, we should be more focused in providing housing than being the landlord of pot shops,” coun. Mandeep Nagra said.

“I speak to the people of Newton every day … People in Newton don’t want a cannabis store in their neighbourhood. So if you want a cannabis store, let’s look at other areas, but not in Newton. Newton is not ready for the cannabis store, they don’t want it,” he added.

Coun. Gordon Hepner was the only one to vote against the motion to refer the plan back to staff.

Earlier in the year, the Surrey Board of Trade issued a report in support of local retail cannabis sales.