Council ponders two cannabis applications
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PRINCE GEORGE – It was the tale of two cannabis applications. A retail cannabis application adjacent to Princess Auto was passed Monday night with zero opposition, while a re-application for a retail sales operation on Third Avenue was debated for two hours.
The applicant, Nasser Kamani, had applied previously and was turned down because of its proximity to Intersection Youth and Family Services, where there is a school for at-risk youth. This time, he came before Council with some options in hand. The first was to issue a three-year temporary use permit. That’s identical to the original, failed application. But another option would have given Council the option to adjust the hours of operation for the permit, which would mean the retail store would not be open when students would be in session. But it came to light during the public hearing that there would be evening classes as well. The third option was to have the City issue a six-month permit with Kamani promising not to sell cannabis at while he sought a new location. All of that would ensure he held on to his provincial permit.
But after several discussions and ideas on how to make it happen, Council voted to turn down the application. Councillor Terri McConnachie moved the first option, suggesting there are many more menacing threats to the youth attending Intersect that”what’s behind the frosted glass.”
“I spent nine months of my life on this and it’s very frustrating,” stated Kamani at the end of the public hearing. “It turns you off.”
