City plans to regulate headshops

Global TV BC

 

They are stores that cater to drug culture, but sell products are perfectly legal. Head shops have caused a store in some neighbourhoods with marijuana paraphernalia on display.

 

Now City Hall is now trying to regulate stores that sell bongs and pipes.

 

A city committee has agreed to force so-called head shops to get a license to operate. Existing stores and new ones will have to apply for the license before a community committee where area residents can have their say too.

 

“They seem to drag down the local…scenario, the neighbours don’t like them, the local businesses don’t like them, it’s a problem,” said City Councillor Gord Steeves.

 

The push to regulate and inspect head shops came after the owner of a Portage Avenue store located across from a high school was arrested on drug charges.

 

The regulations could include provisions to ban minors entering or limit how many pipes or bongs a store can sell.

 

But on a high note for head shops, the new rules likely won't be established until next year.