Lloydminster is proposing new regulations on business licences to include the legalization of marijuana.
People who want to open cannabis shops in the City are looking at a $750 business licence fee, in addition to square footage fees. If a space is smaller than 500 square feet the additional fee is $150, if the shop is larger the fee is upwards of $200.
City Councillor Jonathan Torresan says that with legalizing marijuana there is not a lot of opportunity for cities to make money as far as taxes go and therefore should take advantage of the business licence fees.
“My proposal was why don’t we think about upping our business licence bylaw to pay for some of the capital purchases that are required to actually police this item so that the general public doesn’t have to pay for it, rather the user group is really paying for it.”
In Alberta, Lloydminster does not have a limit for retail business licences available, whereas on the Saskatchewan side there are two permits available. Torresan says that if there is no opportunity for the City to control the amount of stores on the Alberta side, that would be a problem.
“So whether we have two on the Saskatchewan side or 15 on the Alberta side, I would have an issue with the fact we have no control over that, but I believe that through land use and zoning we will have the ability to control that, as well as through the use of business licences.”
The City will be hosting an upcoming Your Voice Night, where residents can raise their concerns around marijuana legislation.