Ordered by a judge this summer to ask its citizens if they want a cannabis shop on the main street, the Town of Sidney has done an about-face and given a green light for the retailer to open after a significant show of public support.
Council voted 6 to 1 to support the cannabis shop on Beacon Avenue this week, after hearing more than 350 written and oral comments — 90 per cent of which were in favour of Brad Styles and Cindy Pendergast opening the business.
The decision ended a bumpy two-year ride for the couple, who filed a lawsuit against the town over a spat about window coverings and faced a backlash over its proposed name — Happy Buddha Cannabis — on religious grounds, and from others for its location on the town’s prominent retail walk.
The province had approved a licence for Styles and Pendergast in January 2019, but the business needed approval from council. Monday’s council vote reversed a 4-3 decision against the couple 11 months ago.
“It feels…
