Drayton Valley town council taking ‘liberal’ approach to cannabis legalization

Signage regulations were also stipulated and state that signs may only display alpha-numeric figures and the business name. There also cannot be any mention of ‘Drayton Valley’ and all goods must not be visible from the outside. Banner signs and inflatable signs are also prohibited.

On retail cannabis, Mayor Michael Doerksen says with the way council opted to go, he could foresee 10 stores opening on legalization day.

“I would say we’re very liberal in what we’ve passed and it’s simply just because how our council feels that it’s not our role as municipal leaders to dictate private businesses and what we should or should not have,” he says. “Have the market dictate how many stores should be in Drayton Valley.”

As far as setbacks go, Doerksen explains they are abiding by provincial recommendations of 100 metres from parks and schools. The exception is that a retail store must be 150 metres away if it fronts towards a park or school.

“We’ve had about 20 groups approach us and show interest in doing it. A lot of people just see the opportunity as a big cash cow,” he says. “As for the community, it’s very mixed bag. We have a very large religious base in Drayton Valley that is against it to some extent.”

Others, he says, see it just like alcohol.

Doerksen predicts that even if ten did open on October 17, a number of them will close six months from now because the province will be regulating what can be sold and at what price.

Still up for debate by town council is public consumption, for which there was a public hearing on Sept. 19.

As well, council will take a look at raising the business license fees for prospective cannabis retailers. Currently, it costs between $100 and $300 for a regular business license in Drayton. Doerksen says there are two schools of thought on how to proceed.

“One is that legalizing cannabis will have a cost to municipalities and I for one am not convinced the province is actually going to funnel much of the proceeds down to municipalities,” he says, noting higher fees could offset the cost of policing and the risk of not putting a limit on how many may open.

“If it’s $2000 a year for a business license, you’re going to have be a little bit more serious about what you’re doing.”

An online survey taken by the Town in early 2018 found 69 per cent of respondents supported cannabis retail stores being in operation.

Thirty-eight per cent said they would support public consumption, while 52 per cent said they’d prefer it be consumed on private property only.

A special meeting of council will be held October 3 to further discuss the outstanding items.

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Drayton Valley town council taking ‘liberal’ approach to cannabis legalization

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