A Squamish cannabis store owner wants district to change its policy that prohibits a person from owning or operating more than one cannabis store in town.
The owners of the Sky High Cannabis say such a policy is discriminatory and must be removed.
“This is as prejudicial as saying a black person cannot have two licences or a woman cannot have two licences or someone who is Jewish can’t. We cannot even get clarity on the purpose of the bylaw,” says Aimee Mussett, the owner of the Sky High Cannabis store on Second Avenue.
Mussett said there questions to the district on the policy have got vague answers.
“Our broad understanding is the bylaw was created from fear of a person or persons rapidly opening two or more stores which could result in unknown negative consequences,” she says.
However, Squamish has many examples of families owning and operating identical businesses in different parts of town, she adds. “We wish to have the same opportunity without discrimination.”
She says employees are offered a generous wage and benefit package to ensure a comfortable living.
“We would love to provide another enjoyable workplace by offering seven full-time, well-paying, benefit-providing, essential-service jobs,” she says.
She says their lawyer says the bylaw violates BC Human Rights Code and is prejudiced.
The district has told them it intends to conduct a Business Licence Bylaw update this fall and would revisit the input provided by Sky High and examine potential solutions to resolve the issue through that process.
