Starbuds gets a second chance to become the first legal pot shop in the Central Okanagan.
Earlier this week, Lake Country Council voted 4-3 to deny a zoning variance required for Starbuds to open a retail store in the Turtle Bay shopping center. Lake Country recently created a new bylaw, specific to the marijuana business, to prevent a pot shop from being within 400 meters of a daycare. That's why Starbuds was denied even though Lake Country staff recommended approval and the nearby daycare owner had no issue with the variance.
Now, council has agreed to hear the Starbuds arguments again at their meeting on December 18th.
Starbuds President Dave Martyn is delighted. He says the debate on the first vote included many marijuana misconceptions including a concern that children would somehow have access to marijuana edibles.
Martyn says "Edibles are not for sale within the legal cannabis industry. They're not in the cannabis act today. So a discussion about having gummy bears that children would have access to...I'm not sure how that leap happens."
Martyn is proud of his Kelowna based company. Starbuds is the retail side. Compass Cannabis is the medical side. He hopes to evolve into a truly national company with franchises in several provinces.