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Uptown Flin Flon zoned for post-legalization cannabis retail

If a company wants to sell marijuana in Flin Flon after legalization, it will have to be uptown, according to a new bylaw passed by city council. The bylaw was passed on second reading after a public meeting before the Aug. 21 city council meeting.
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If a company wants to sell marijuana in Flin Flon after legalization, it will have to be uptown, according to a new bylaw passed by city council.

The bylaw was passed on second reading after a public meeting before the Aug. 21 city council meeting.

Under the new bylaw, the existing area labelled as C2 – the uptown commercial area of Flin Flon – is now zoned for “permitted sale and distribution of recreation cannabis.”

“It defines the zone where they’ll be able to sell it. It won’t be in your backyard,” said councillor Bill Hanson.

While the zoning is set, anyone looking to purchase legal marijuana will have to wait.

First off, the sale, distribution, possession and smoking of marijuana is not anticipated to be fully legalized any earlier than Oct. 17.

Once legalization commences, any potential marijuana seller in Flin Flon will need to have all provincial-level permits and permissions before even applying to city council.

Mayor Cal Huntley said a locally based business, Payson’s Smoke N’ Vape, had approached council to open up a cannabis retail location after legalization.

“They need to be part of the approved provincial distribution network if they were to do that,” said Huntley.

Four companies have received provincial approval to own and operate cannabis retail locations in Manitoba. One of the companies, National Access Cannabis, has business plans with northern First Nations and has entered into a $35 million debt-financing agreement with Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN).

Other companies could soon get involved, but it is unknown which groups will receive operation from the province.

The provincial Liquor and Gaming Authority will carry out regulation and licensing of cannabis, while Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries will manage distribution to approved sellers.

Huntley said that, while Flin Flon was not on the first list of cannabis retail locations in Manitoba, the community is likely to be considered in later discussions.

“Do we know who’s going to be selling here, if anybody? We don’t yet, but I believe we’re on the second tier with regards to those kinds of announcements. I had a brief discussion with one of the ministers a couple of weeks ago and it looks like it’s on the list.”

While the discussions continue, Huntley said Flin Flon will not be taking an active role as of yet, choosing instead to deal with other pressing matters at home.

“We’re going to let the provincial government work at that. We have enough of our own issues to deal with right now.”

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