Vancouver to become first Canadian city to regulate marijuana shops

The plan, which will go to city council Tuesday, specifically ignores the legality of marijuana and instead tries to deal with the astronomical growth of unlicensed dispensaries over the last few years.

Vancouver is about to become the first city in Canada where the business of selling marijuana will be regulated and permitted.

Although the drug is illegal in Canada and technically only available to people by a mail order, prescription system set up by the federal government, the city will permit the operation of dispensaries under a proposed framework that selects which businesses can open and imposes rigid operating conditions.

The proposed regulatory framework, which will take months to implement and still needs council approval, reflects a permissive view by the Vision Vancouver majority that supports access to marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Under Mayor Gregor Robertson’s administration, the city has held off enforcement as the number of unlicensed, unregulated and illegal pot dispensaries skyrocketed during the past two years.

The plan will go to city council Tuesday and specifically ignores the question of legalizing the sale and use of marijuana.

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