The City of Vancouver has ordered two dispensaries to close, the first under new regulations.
Letters were sent out this week to the first wave of dispensaries the city has ordered out of business, a group that will grow after a six-month grace period has expired for other, unsuccessful license applicants.
Vancouver chief licensing inspector Andreea Toma named the stores as Quick Stop Dispensary (2893 East Broadway) and Health Lifestyle Marijuana Supply Centre (201–1011 Commercial Drive).
The businesses were requested to shut down immediately or the city would use enforcement action.
“We are currently closed under our own discretion to see how the industry moves forward,” said the owner of Quick Stop Dispensary, who asked to not to be identified.
City officials opened applications for business licences to dispensaries and compassion clubs this summer. 176 applications were received, with the city announcing earlier this week that 11 of those had been approved to move on to the next phase of the process, another 30 too close to one another and entering a “declustering” process and the remaining applicants required to find a new location or close within six months.
The two stores ordered to close had not filed applications by the August 21 deadline.
When asked about additional shut down requests, Jag Sandhu with City of Vancouver corporate communication, directed Cannabis in Canada to the release posted to the City’s website.
“We will provide an update once we’ve gone through the process detailed in the release,” Sandhu said.