Marijuana dispensary regulations to be finalized by Vancouver

After four days of public hearings, Vancouver city council is expected to finalize regulations to license the city's roughly 100 medical marijuana retailers as early as Wednesday.

The proposed regulations would charge retail dealers a $30,000 licensing fee and prevent shops from operating within 300 metres of community centres, schools and other pot shops.

The city's proposed bylaw would exclude the sale of edible products with the exception of edible oils which would include tinctures and capsules, following the recent Supreme Court decision which essentially legalized their medical use.

Dozens of Vancouverites spoke out for and against the regulations at the hearings, which wrapped up on Monday evening.

Mik Mann, who says he was one of the first licensed growers in Canada, said he uses the drug to cope with health issues and credits it with saving his life. Now he is thrilled to see city hall is finally considering regulating dispensaries.

"It's great. I never expected a municipal government to take up the fight especially against the federal government," he said.

The city says the regulations are intended to curb the burgeoning number of pot dispensaries in the city.

Dispensary owner Aja Moon said she is happy the city is considering regulations, but has concerns about the expensive fee.

"The $30,000 means the patients across Vancouver are going to be paying more money," she said.

City council votes on the regulations on Wednesday.