Council in Surrey, B.C., voted unanimously on Monday to approve eight operators for 12 different cannabis stores, as B.C.'s second-largest city by population moves closer to having its first legal cannabis outlets.

Two stores will be set up in each of the neighbourhoods of Whalley/City Centre, Guildford, Fleetwood, Newton, South Surrey and Cloverdale, as part of a framework approved by council in April.

Under the framework, cannabis retail stores must set up shop at least 200 metres from schools,…