First 4 Vancouver marijuana dispensaries denied business licence appeals

Vancouver's board of variance has denied thefirst four appeals frommarijuana dispensaries hoping to reverse the city's refusal to grant them a business licence.

In June 2015Vancouver city council voted to regulate and license medical marijuana retailers, making it the first city in Canada to do so.But by late October, only six per cent of those who applied were successful.

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Most of the shops had theirlicencesdenied because they were too close to schools, community centres, or other marijuana dispensaries.

"I'm hoping not everyone is putting their eggs in one basket, hopingthe board of appeals will grant them their application," saidVancouverchief licensing inspector AndreaToma.

She said there are still options for dispensaries thatwere denied a licence, but theyshould belooking for another location to set up shop.

"We've said, 'We're here to help you if you can find a viable location,'" Toma said.

The remaining 58 appeals will appear in front of the board of variance until mid-November.

Dispensaries denied a licencehave six months to close up shopfrom when the city deniedtheir application.