Whitehorse Daily Star

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Photo by Vince Fedoroff

LOCATION HAS DRAWBACKS – Whitehorse resident Lee Goodwin addresses city council Monday evening about the Yukon government’s choice of Marwell for its cannabis distribution outlet. He cited the time and complications in getting to the area by bus as a disadvantage of the location.

Pot sale’s limit to Marwell draws objection

Members of the public will have a chance to let the city know their thoughts on Marwell as the neighbourhood from which to purchase cannabis.

By Stephanie Waddell on January 16, 2018

Members of the public will have a chance to let the city know their thoughts on Marwell as the neighbourhood from which to purchase cannabis.

The Yukon government will be the sole retailer once the federal government decriminalizes the possession/sale of cannabis, with the private sector assuming a role sometime in the future.

At its meeting Monday night, council passed first reading of the bylaw that would limit retail cannabis sales to the industrial neighbourhood.

That paves the way for a public hearing to be held during council’s Feb. 12 meeting before second and third readings of the bylaw are held Feb. 26.

The proposal for the location came forward last Thursday in light of the Yukon government’s plan for the first phase of implementing its sole authority for selling legal pot.

The future phases could see retail rules changed and potential locations less restricted.

Melodie Simard, the city’s manager of planning and sustainability, highlighted the reasons for choosing Marwell as the only neighbourhood where it can be sold as:

• its central location;

• the compatibility with business district retailers and other land uses in the area;

• it already has buildings, with 10,000 square feet of storage capability along with lease potential;

• its close proximity to the Yukon Liquor Corp. offices (the management agent for cannabis retailing); and

• accessibility to public transit.

In a presentation at last night’s meeting though, resident Lee Goodwin voiced his opposition to restricting the sale solely to Marwell.

Goodwin already has a licence from Health Canada to grow his own pot for medical purposes. He described it as “a major issue” for potential buyers.

In his case, Goodwin said, going to Marwell to purchase pot would mean more time transferring to another city bus and extra time to get from downtown to Marwell, which is accessible via Industrial Road.

Goodwin said he could understand a central dispensary in Marwell.

However, he questioned why retail pot would not be sold in more convenient locations where residents already purchase tobacco and/or alcohol.

Most people seem to want to be able to purchase legal pot from convenient store-front locations, Goodwin added.

Coun. Samson Hartland was quick to question whether Goodwin is aware of the phased-in approach being taken on the retail sale of weed.

Coun. Betty Irwin noted later in the meeting that while she would prefer to have seen the territory allow for retail sales in other outlets, it is a Yukon government decision.

The city’s role is to look at the zoning for cannabis sales.

Given that the Yukon government “has spoken” on its plans to sell from just one location, Irwin voiced her support for that to happen in Marwell.

Meanwhile, Hartland suggested it would be prudent for the Yukon government to take notes after legalization happens on how things go and whether the public wants to see private retail sales for cannabis in the future.

“Otherwise, I think we’re on the right track,” Hartland said.

A report on the Feb. 12 public hearing will come forward at the Feb. 19 meeting.

Council is then expected to vote on the final two readings at the end of the month.

See short commentary in Opinions.

Comments (12)

Up 2 Down 1

Jim Cleaver on Jan 21, 2018 at 3:53 pm

Just goes to show both levels of government are incompetent.

Up 0 Down 0

Geoff on Jan 18, 2018 at 8:01 pm

Martin, there will be no shoplifting in their either.

Up 3 Down 1

YukonMax on Jan 18, 2018 at 10:56 am

At least 3 websites that I know of sells by mail order and their prices are "High"ly competitive. It comes in your mailboxes, no need to bother anyone. Special prices for compassionates and wholesale prices as well. How would the government compete against an established mail order center that delivers for free all over Canada? Prices are gonna drop to a level the government won't be able to match.

Up 2 Down 1

martin on Jan 17, 2018 at 10:45 pm

Good place... unless you're too stoned to get there

Up 1 Down 2

Please clarify on Jan 17, 2018 at 7:06 pm

1. Marwell is central to who? Everyone (nearly) goes to RCSS or Chilkoot Centre Save-on, why not put the retail there somewhere! No schools/daycares/ or whatever they're worried about in close proximity.

2. Retail businesses? The area is full of heavy industrial, furniture stores, gas & propane suppliers, vehicle repair shops ... who are these retailers of which you speak? (City is so out to lunch on Marwell, check out their development Plan, bikes & tankers)

3. Yes, big buildings there are, former garages? will remediation be required, good point made somewhere about partnering with FN? A1 auto repair just closed up shop is that theirs?

4. Why does it need to be close to YLC?

5. Sure transit maybe? Did a pretty straight forward test run online from PC to random Marwell stop, 45 min return trip - I used a weekend evening (Sat 7pm), not a transit user so not sure if that would be acceptable, what if you're coming out of Crestview or Riverdale, Copper Ridge, etc.

I am quite disappointed with the "old" guard populating our governments especially YTG taking on all the retail. We have people that have been working really hard and jumping many hoops (without even knowing which hoops they have to jump) knowledgeable about this product and how to get the most benefit from strains available. They probably have very good insight about what pot users think would work best for them.

I would really like to hear more about how they will be offering on-line sales, which I personally think is where most will get their pot. Without that info, I have to agree with Bravo that there will be no impact on the illicit market with this plan.

I'm looking forward to hearing what pricing is going to be.

Up 4 Down 3

Bravo on Jan 17, 2018 at 11:32 am

Like what does the city think is going to happen when it's finally available for sale? Ravenous hordes are going to come out of the woods and go insane?? Your "phased-in" approach is nothing more then an attempt at controlling something you've never had control of in the first place!!! It is flat-out embarrassing that you think Marwell is a good solution. Everyone I have asked about it laughs and says if it's a choice between taking the bus to Marwell to pickup or sticking with their old dealers, they'll stick with what works! You are still as clueless as it gets and we obviously have a long way to go still. It's completely asinine in this day and age that you're STILL trying to control this. But cheers and thanks for the laugh!

Up 2 Down 0

My Opinion on Jan 17, 2018 at 12:19 am

This is the least of a whole list of Boondoggles we face with this legislation.

Up 3 Down 1

Clean air guru on Jan 16, 2018 at 10:30 pm

In praise of city council again. Marwell is a great location for this business. Reasons given for this choice make so much sense. Furthermore, Councillor Betty Irwin's clarification hit the mark!

Up 4 Down 1

jc on Jan 16, 2018 at 9:22 pm

What does it matter, within 10 years they will be all over on every street corner. It's the way everything stupid starts - slow then builds up. Just like the Liberals.

Up 3 Down 1

AL on Jan 16, 2018 at 3:54 pm

I like the idea of having this product sold half between Dawson City and Old Crow.

Up 1 Down 3

ProScience Greenie on Jan 16, 2018 at 3:26 pm

Get ready for lots of tourist traffic in Marwell looking to get some legal Yukon weed after July.

Hopefully non-socialist, free market and free enterprise retail sales happen sooner than later.

Up 4 Down 4

Hugh Mungus on Jan 16, 2018 at 3:12 pm

Did COW just throw a dart at a map to pick this location? It's awful. There is tons of commercial space in the downtown without having the place in an industrial wasteland. Put it downtown where people can actually access it.

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