Last night’s Board of Variance meeting resulted in another Vancouver medical cannabis dispensary successfully appealing an earlier rejection for a business license from the city.
The Village Dispensary (206 1540 West 2 Ave) is located within a cluster of other medical cannabis operations in the area, and had been unsuccessful in being chosen by officials to move forward with its license application.
Under city bylaws, dispensaries can not be 300 metres away from one another. The Board of Variance approved The Village Dispensary’s appeal regardless of the nearby dispensaries and the Cannabis Growers of Canada member will now move on to try and procure a development permit and business license.
On Facebook, staff said they were grateful for support and to their representation, Kirk Tousaw.
“Thank you BOV. Thank you city of Vancouver staff! We won!!!!”
We won!!! Thank you to everyone who supported us and to @KirkTousaw for your support!!!
— The Village cafe + (@thevillage1540) September 8, 2016
The only other dispensary to attend the meeting was Crosstown Dispensary (314 West Hastings), located within 300 m of a youth centre, Crosstown’s application for a license had been initially rejected. The Board adjourned the hearing for the dispensary until Nov. 8, after Tousaw (who was also serving as council) asked for additional information.
All other scheduled dispensary hearings were not in attendance and were adjourned to a later date. The Medicinal Cannabis Dispensary (874 East Hastings St.) will now be heard Nov. 4, Karuna Health Foundation (1928 W Broadway) will return Nov. 8. and Red-Med (231 Abbott Street) will be back in front of the Board of Variance Dec. 20.
The next Board of Variance meeting is scheduled for Sept. 21.