Cannabis stores in Vancouver are not supposed to be within 300 metres of schools.

In the case of one retailer wanting to open a shop downtown, it is suggesting a way around that rule.

Canadian Cannabis Media Corp. says it has a partnership with a private school near its proposed store at 86 Smithe Street.

According to the business, the partnership will deliver arts and science programs during after school hours.

CCMC has filed a development application with the City of Vancouver, and part of that submission is an operational letter.

In that letter, the company noted that the 86 Smithe Street location is within 250 metres of The Westside School, a private institution.

According to CCMC, the school offers kindergarten to Grade 3 instruction.

In its letter, the company said that it has met with school leaders to “join forces and together will create science and art programs” as part of after-school activities.

“This unique partnership will help educators, parents, children and the neighbourhood inhabitants share safety ideas, responsible communication and create awareness,” the business stated.

According to the website of the learning institution, The Westside School has a K-3 school at 788 Beatty Street, which was apparently the one cited by CCMC in its letter.

There is another branch of The Westside School on the same street as the proposed CCMC cannabis store.

That would be at 101 Smithe Street, the location The Westside School’s middle years centre for Grade 4 to Grade 7 students.

This Grades 4-7 school was not mentioned in the CCMC letter to the city.

“In all fairness regarding hardship, CCMC requests a by-law relaxation for this case by case basis, as we know we are a leader in this approach to include the school[‘]s direct input to our business practice,” the company wrote.

The city will receive comments from the public about the cannabis store application until April 17, 2020.