Kelowna considers position on legalization of marijuana for task force

KELOWNA – City staff have outlined how they view the legalization of marijuana for the federal legalization task force and are seeking council support for their position.

Urban planning manager Ryan Smith in a report to council says with legalization sometime in 2017 assumed, staff believe minimum age of consent should be the same or higher than alcohol.

Minimum age should be consistent throughout the country and edible products should be federally regulated, the report says.

Local government should be given a share of provincial and federal tax revenues related to legal marijuana.

Staff want to see municipalities regulate home growing and prohibit or minimize it in residential areas and limited outdoor cultivation.

Commercial production should be confined to industrial facilities, with local government deciding where they can be set up.

Kelowna pot smokers would find outdoor use banned except for locally determed marijuana smoking areas. Consumption would be restricted in publicly accessible areas.

Dispensaries and other storefront outlets should only be allowed to operate at the discretion of municipalities, the report says.

Council will review staff’s response to the task force at a public meeting 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 22 at Kelowna City Hall.

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