An application to open a cannabis store down the road from 91原创 Christrian School (LCS) in Murrayville has been rejected by 91原创 Township council, which also approved amending policy to limit the number of such stores allowed in the future, to one each in specific neighbourhoods.

鈥淭his is Cannabis,鈥� which has stores in Abbbotsford and Chilliwack, wanted to open one near 48th Avenue and Fraser Highway, which would put it just over 200 metres away from LCS, the minimum required distance allowed next to a school under the Township Cannabis Retail Sales policy,

That was still too close for the school, which has 1,400 K-12 students.

In a letter to council to express the opposition of the school board of directors, Adam Woelders, LCS head of schools, said the proposed location was on a route used by approximately 200 to 300 students a day.

鈥淲e understand that cannabis products and their use is regulated and legal in the province of B.C., however we reject the proposal of a location so close to vital community services and businesses, and which would be placed in a location on a major artery of school foot traffic,鈥� Woelders said.

鈥淭his proposal would place a highly visible and prominent retailer near 91原创 Christian Schools, the 91原创 School Board Office and businesses frequented by youth in our community including a dance studio and fast-food retailers,鈥� Woelders added.

Woelders said the board would like to see the bylaw revised to keep retailers a greater distance from schools, saying there was 鈥渟ubstantive evidence in local schools that many of the products confiscated from students originated from legal cannabis retailers.鈥�

The letter landed prior to the Jan. 30 meeting of Township council to consider the application.

At the meeting, This is Cannabis founder Cody Les argued for approval of the application to open a store in Murrayville, 鈥渂ased on our conformance to the bylaws and associated buffer zones, our demonstrated efforts to alleviate all concerns identified during the application process and our track record of excellence in safe and responsible cannabis retail.鈥�

Les promised security would be on-site daily during school hours.

This is Cannabis had also become a member of the Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce and was planning to move its headquarters to 91原创, Les added.

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In three years of operating stores, 鈥渨e have never served a minor,鈥� Les told council.

More than 225 letters of support were forwarded to Council, a 鈥渟ignificant鈥� portion from Murrayville residents, Les said.

鈥淎ccess to legal products like these should not be unreasonably withheld,鈥� he added.

A staff report on the proposal recommended approval, but a majority of council disagreed, with Mayor Eric Woodward and Councillors Tim Baillie, Steve Ferguson, Margaret Kunst, Barb Martens, Rob Rindt and Kim Richter voting it down.

Kunst said the issue was 鈥渨here it is,鈥� too close to the school.

It鈥檚 鈥渓ocation, location, location,鈥� Baille said.

Richter said with three cannabis stores in the Township, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we need another one.鈥�

Councillors Misty Van Popta and Michael Pratt supported the proposal.

鈥淚鈥檓 frustrated with societal hypocrisy that a plant that has been used for a millennium all over the world for pain control, sleep anxiety, and other medical conditions is somehow bad, yet we celebrate alcohol culture,鈥� Van Popta declared.

鈥淭his is about facts, not fear,鈥� Van Popta added, saying 鈥渕ore lives [are] destroyed by pharmaceuticals than cannabis.鈥�

Pratt said 鈥減roximity is not what causes somebody to do something or want to do something,鈥� and the proposal 鈥渕eets all our policy requirements.鈥�

Myor Woodward said 鈥渋n this particular issue, both sides are right, but a decision has to get made.鈥�

Woelders welcomed the decision to reject, saying LCS was 鈥渢hankful that the councillors made the best decision in light of all the factors involved, and prioritizing kids and their schools.鈥�

At the same council meeting, a majority voted to amend the Township policy by setting a limit of one cannabis store per neighbourhood in 鈥渆ach of the urban communities in Aldergrove, Brookswood-Fernridge, Carvolth within Willoughby, Murrayville and Willowbrook.鈥�

Woodward said it would, 鈥渋ronically鈥� leave Murrayville, and Brookswood available for proposals.

Councillors Richter, Pratt and Kunst were opposed.

In his motion, Woodward noted the Township of 91原创 now has three open or approved cannabis retail operations in the urban communities of Aldergrove, Carvolth in Willoughby, and Willowbrook.

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