A battle is brewing in Victoria over a space that allows pot smokers to light up in a social setting.
The Green Ceiling allows people to smoke their own marijuana for a small fee.
On Thursday the city’s only dedicated cannabis lounge was issued a cease and desist order.
The following day the business owners were handed Victoria’s first ticket as part of the new cannabis business regulations.
The lounge is now on the hook for $500 and could be fined every day it’s open.
Victoria’s mayor said in the case of the Green Ceiling, its business can never be regulated by a municipality.
“Safe consumption is important, it’s important to council. It’s not a business issue, it’s health issue,” Lisa Helps said. “This is a business license bylaw. We don’t regulate health, that’s what Island Health does.”
The owners of Green Ceiling say they will dispute the ticket and any that follow.
Fines under the new cannabis business regulations include:
- $500 for on-site consumption
- $500 for allowing minors inside
- $500 for failing to install surveillance cameras
- $1,000 for operating without a license
