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Surrey has given the go-ahead for eight companies to open a total of 12 cannabis retail outlets, the first to be licensed in the city since marijuana was legalized six years ago.
Planners for the city — which has been slower than other Metro Vancouver communities to license pot stores since it was made legal at the federal level in 2018 — evaluated 31 expressions of interest to determine which were suitable. The plan was to have a couple of stores in each of six Surrey neighbourhoods, and to ensure they weren’t too close to schools or community centres.
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In fact, one of the applications that had been approved in Cloverdale was rescinded when it was determined it was within 200 metres of a provincially funded learning centre, and was instead handed to a rival application in a more appropriate location.
The stores that received approval at Monday’s city council meeting were:
• Whalley-City Centre: Lightbox Enterprises Ltd. doing business as “Dutch Love Cannabis,” No. 201-13650 102nd Ave. and Local Surrey Holdings Co.’s “Local Cannabis,” 10449 King George Blvd.
• Newton: 1268236 B.C. Ltd. doing business as “Imagine Cannabis,” No. 502-7380 King George Blvd. and 1181168 B.C. Ltd.’s “Surrey Cannabis Connection” 12499 88th Ave.
• South Surrey: Burb Cannabis Corp. doing business as “Burb Cannabis,” No. 108-15775 Croydon Dr. and Lightbox Enterprises Ltd.’s “Dutch Love Cannabis,” No. 125-16030 24th Ave.
• Fleetwood: 1486965 B.C. Ltd. doing business as “Inspired Cannabis,” No. 103-9014 152nd St. and 1181168 B.C. Ltd.’s “Surrey Cannabis Connection,” 15148 Fraser Hwy.
• Cloverdale: L & M Business Consulting Limited doing business as “UEM Cannabis,” No. 100-5828 176th St. and Queensborough Cannabis Co. Ltd.’s “Queensborough Cannabis,” 19581 Fraser Hwy.
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• Guildford: 1486965 B.C. Ltd. doing business as “Inspired Cannabis,” 10383 150th St. and 1268236 B.C. Ltd.’s “Imagine Cannabis,” No. 5-10330 152nd St.
City staff will now develop rezoning applications for the outlets, and each location will be subject to a public hearing before it can go ahead.
The Surrey Board of Trade lauded the approvals, saying it aligns with its “commitment to fostering an inclusive, dynamic and progressive business environment” in the city.
“By enabling a regulated and responsible cannabis retail industry, Surrey is opening doors for economic growth, job creation and revenue diversification, while enhancing consumer safety through a regulated market,” said Jasroop Gosal, a spokesperson for the board of trade.
The board “has long advocated for an evidence-based approach to cannabis policy that prioritizes public safety, economic benefits and clear regulatory frameworks,” said Gosal. “The carefully controlled expansion of cannabis retail in Surrey represents a forward-thinking approach, aligning Surrey with other major cities in Canada that have seen positive economic impacts from similar decisions.”
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