Calgary starts grinding through marijuana store applications

The City of Calgary is starting its review of 261 applications it has received so far for retail marijuana stores and hopes to have the initial process wrapped up by Aug. 10. 

It's unlikely all those who applied to open a store will get the green light. 

"Similar to other municipalities, we will be making decisions based on the order in which the applications were received, but that is our standard business practice here at the City of Calgary," said Brandy MacInnis, senior special projects officer with the city.

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Rules limit where the stores can go, with established distances from schools, emergency shelters, pawnshops, payday loan operators, places of worship and other marijuana retailers. 

"Once a cannabis store is approved, there would be a 300-metre setback to other cannabis stores, which can be relaxed, but would be reviewed as they are discretionary uses," said MacInnis. 

She said there could be stores right next to each other, but that would be "very rare" and that decisions on heavier concentrations of stores would be based on the surrounding communities and characteristics like population density.

"Ultimately, we want to avoid an over-concentration of stores in any one neighbourhood," said MacInnis. 

When an application is approved, the owners will first be issued a building permit, followed by a business licence. 

Once a decision has been made on an application, there is a 21-day appeal period. 

It's expected stores will be allowed to open at 10 a.m. on Oct. 17.

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