Edibles may be available in cannabis shops in other cities, but they’re not being sold in New West stores – but that could soon change.
New Westminster city council has approved a motion by Coun. Patrick Johnstone directing staff to bring forward bylaw amendments that would allow cannabis retail stores to sell edibles for off-site consumption. The motion also directed staff not to enforce the local prohibition of the sale of cannabis edibles for off-site consumption pending a decision of council regarding a change to bylaws.
Johnstone explained that when the city put together its bylaws related to retail cannabis operations in 2018, edible cannabis products weren’t legal in Canada. Out of an abundance of caution, he said the city’s bylaws stated edibles would not be sold in New Westminster – even though the city knew they would likely be made legal sometime in 2019.
“So, they are now currently legal. They are being licensed by the federal government, and they are being sold through the provincial government online, and they are available in other communities,” he said. “I just hope we would be able to rapidly update our bylaws so that the new retailers that are opening are actually able to sell products that are legal in British Columbia.”
The motion was among four items considered at a special council meeting on Monday, Aug. 10. The next regular council meeting is Aug. 31.
