Victoria scores legal victory in closing unauthorized pot shops

The City of Victoria is marking a legal victory in its efforts to regulate the locations of cannabisstores and shut downones that ignore its rules.

On Friday theB.C. Supreme Court ruled against the Green Dragon Medicinal Society's challenge of a city council decision to reject the store's rezoning application.

Chief Justice Christopher Hinksonalso granted the city an injunction ordering Green Dragon to shut its doors.

"This is the first injunction granted to the city ordering the closure of an unauthorized cannabis retailer," the City of Victoria said in a news release.

It added that the city is proceeding with court actions against other unlicensed pot shops.

Victoria's regulations for licensing marijuana retailers, introduced last year, requires rezoning as a first step toward licensing.

The city concludedthe store, located on the edge of Victoria's Chinatown,was too close to a school.

A Facebook post on the Green Dragon Medicinal Society page said the store is "closed for good," confirmed by city bylaw inspectors on Monday.

The court ruling and injunction is a victory in an ongoing effort by city officials to shut down pot shopsthat continue to floutthe Storefront Cannabis Retailer Rezoning Policy.

Nine cannabis retailers continue to operate on property that hasn't applied forrezoning or has already been turned down,according to the City of Victoria, with more than $150,000 in outstanding fines for violations of the policy.

Earlier this month Mayor Lisa Helps said the city is considering legal action against landlords who provide space to cannabis retailersoperating even after being rejected for rezoning.

With Files from Emily Brass