In just over six weeks cannabis will be legal in Airdrie and the rest of Canada.  Today (September 4) at Airdrie City Council, we'll find out more about just where it can be sold in the city.  

A public hearing will be held during today's city council meeting to amend the Cannabis Land Use Bylaw to include definitions, standards, and regulations on cannabis facilities and retail businesses.  Another amended bylaw which establishes a map and outlines the properties for which retail cannabis stores are permitted or discretionary use will also be presented. The amendments are needed to the bylaw to make it align with federal and provincial legislation.

After the August 20th council meeting, city council tabled a draft of the bylaw and instructed city staff to return with clarification on four items.  Today the amended bylaw will be given the public hearing and, immediately following it, the council will be asked to give it three readings. 

City Planner William Czaban says the Land Use Bylaw is meant to establish where cannabis retailers can be located. 

He outlined the procedures that potential retailers must take and says it's no different than for any other business.  "The land use bylaw will establish the locations where we would allow cannabis retail as a land use, so it establishes the development rights of those properties.  Then a person would come in and apply for a development permit to our office, the same as they would if they were opening up a new general retail store location or a doctor's office or something of that nature." 

Czaban says he has seen a fair amount of interest from people who'd like to become cannabis retailers, or at least are curious about it.  "There's definitely been a fair bit of interest.  I'd say that I've personally fielded at least a dozen to 15 different inquiries.  Some of those people who are looking at prospective locations, others who are just generally interested in following along with what our land use regulations are going to be once we have them adopted by council."

Stephen Utz, Manager of Community Growth and Protective Services with the City of Airdrie, says if council approves the amended bylaw following the public hearing, Airdrie will be ready for the legalization of cannabis.

"There are two things in particular that municipalities need to be ready for.  The first is the potential public consumption site which has been dealt with by council and council has adopted a location.  The other is with respect to where cannabis can be sold legally and that's what we're taking forward on Tuesday, some land use bylaw options for council to choose from and adopt.  If council adopts the land use amendments then applicants will be able to come in and apply for the development permits and the development permit would then move on to the building permit and tenant locations would likely be available on October 17th."

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