Delta council, at its Sept, 27th meeting, announced it has instructed staff not to accept and consider any more submitted applications to open cannabis dispensaries in the city – at least for the time being.

In June, following a public hearing, council unanimously approved advancing an application by Seed & Stone to open a private cannabis dispensary at 616 Chester Road, located on Annacis Island.

It would be in close proximity to the Highway 91 Interchange and would be the first cannabis store in Delta. The operation will located within a 3,638-square-foot portion of an existing multi-tenant industrial building. The retail portion would be in a 1,001-square-foot storefront.

Seed and Stone, a non-medical cannabis retail brand, currently operates a store in Chilliwack and Victoria and is expanding to White Rock and elsewhere in B.C.

That application must still come back to council for final approval.

The rezoning applications would see a cannabis dispensary opened at the Delta Shoppers Mall at 8077 Scott Road as well as a dispensary in the Scottsdale Centre mall at 70 Avenue and Scott Road.

Earlier this year, Platinum Projects on behalf of Inspired Cannabis Co., applied to rezone a 2,740 square-foot commercial retail unit at the Delta Shoppers Mall.

The application to open a dispensary at Scottsdale Centre was submitted by the BC Liquor Distribution Branch, a proposal that would see a 2,479-square-foot cannabis retailer in the mall.

The city also recently received two applications to open dispensaries in Tsawwassen and one in Ladner.

Coun. Dylan Kruger told the Optimist council wants to give staff the time needed to work through those current six application before considering any additional applications.

He noted he believes it is important that there is reasonable access to legal cannabis in all three of Delta’s communities, especially for seniors and others who need access to medicinal marijuana.

Prior to the legalization of cannabis in Canada, Delta council passed a bylaw prohibiting cannabis production and retail sales in all zones, except where permitted by the province within the Agricultural Land Reserve.

The city will consider applications on a case-by-case basis.

The neighbouring cities of Surrey and Richmond have banned retail cannabis dispensaries.