The Cariboo Regional District has put a moratorium on the retail sale of cannabis until the province clarifies rules pertaining to it in regional districts.
Chair Margo Wagner says that the provincial government prior to their announcement as to where the product would be sold led them to believe that it would always be sold from liquor outlets in municipalities.
She says however now they have changed their mind.
“The liquor control board will approve the issuing of licenses to sell, but they feel that the conversation has been had that in the rural areas the liquor outlets are probably where this product can be bought.”
“Our issue with that is that in really small rural communities the liquor outlets are always in a general store where there is no restriction on the age of the person who can go in to the store; you can buy a bottle of wine, you can buy a pack of cigarettes, you can buy bubblegum, you can buy a candy bar, and you can buy a jug of milk.”
The stores also according to Wagner are quite proximal to schools.
“The Cariboo Regional District does not issue business licenses,” she adds.
“We really have little control on this.”
The resolution from Thursday’s committee of the whole was ratified by the Board on Friday. Area F Director Joan Sorley voted against it.