Cannabis Retail Sales
Retail application frequently asked questions
| What type of application is required? |
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The following applications are required:
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| Do I need to get approval from the Provincial Liquor & Cannabis Regulation Branch before submitting my application? |
| No. You will be required to provide receipt of your LCRB application when you submit your applications to the Township. |
| Is the corporate and financial documentation required as per Item “N” of the Development Application Requirements? |
| No. These items are not required and do not need to be submitted as part of the Cannabis Retail Store Endorsement application. |
| I don’t have a copy of my Provincial Liquor & Cannabis Regulation Branch application as per Item “N” of the Development Application Requirements? What can I do? |
| We understand the application form is not immediately available upon submitting to the LCRB. In the meantime please provide evidence in the form of a receipt of payment to verify that your application has been submitted and received by the LCRB. |
Cannabis retail sales policy
On Monday, March 23, a public hearing was held for the amending bylaws associated with the Cannabis Retail Sales Policy. Upon receiving no correspondence and no submissions the matter has been referred for an additional Public Hearing. Out of concern for the health and safety of residents and businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak the date for this public hearing is indefinite. Applications for cannabis retail stores will not be accepted until the amending bylaws have been adopted. The application submission date will be posted following an additional public hearing, and once the amending bylaws have been scheduled for final adoption.
For information on the Policy and the Engagement Summary for the Cannabis Retail Sales Public Consultation please see the following:
For further information please contact Community and Policy Planning at cdinfo@tol.ca
| Background Information |
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On October 17, 2018, the federal Cannabis Act and Cannabis Regulations came into effect, legalizing recreational cannabis. Cannabis edibles, extracts, and topical products were legalized by the federal government in late 2019. Currently, cannabis retail sales are not permitted in the Township of Langley until amending bylaws have been adopted. Federal, provincial, and municipal governments have differing roles in regulating cannabis. The figure below illustrates a simple breakdown of some of the responsibilities related to retail sales.
Cannabis is available legally through government-run stores and the online store operated by the BC Liquor Distribution Branch as well as licensed private retailers. In the Township of Langley, no government-run stores or licensed private retailers currently exist. The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch is responsible for issuing licenses for cannabis retail stores. Before a license is issued, the local government, where the proposed store is located, is required to provide a positive recommendation. The Township of Langley is conducting public consultation on cannabis retail sales in order to understand the desires and opinions of community members and stakeholders. For more information on non-medical cannabis, please see: |
| Public Consultation |
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The Township of Langley undertook public engagement to gather the views and preferences of residents and stakeholders regarding cannabis retail sales. The results of public consultation informed development of the Cannabis Retail Sales Policy. Policy development took place over three phases: Phase 1 – Background Research: Best practice research was conducted to identify options for regulating cannabis retail sales in local municipalities. Phase 2 – Public Engagement: Public engagement gathered the views and preferences of residents and stakeholders. Stakeholders were informed and educated about the options for cannabis retail and their views were gathered through a survey and at public open houses. The results were published in an engagement summary at the end of Phase 3. Public engagement had the following goals:
Public Open Houses were held at multiple locations across the Township in October, 2019. A survey was also conducted throughout the month of October to collect public opinion on policy options for cannabis retail sales, including whether cannabis retail sales should be permitted in the Township of Langley. Phase 3 – Development of Regulatory Framework: Based on the research conducted in Phase 1 and results of public engagement in Phase 2, a regulatory framework for cannabis retail sales was developed and presented to Council on March 9, 2020. The framework addresses issues such as the prohibition or allowance of cannabis retail stores and a proposed retail model. |
Contact
Community and Policy Planning
cdinfo@tol.ca