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Canada: Vancouver approves pot dispensary rules

Stefania Seccia,

Vancouver 24hrs

Wednesday 24 Jun 2015

While Vancouver has become the first city in Canada to regulate medical pot dispensaries — against the express wishes of the federal government — it’s garnered a mixed reaction from pot advocates who are now left with the new rules.

City council approved Wednesday the regulations with new amendments to deal with the proliferation of dispensaries across Vancouver — with councillors guessing there are now around 100.

While the city maintained the regulation that dispensaries have to maintain a minimum of 300 metres away from community centres, schools and neighbourhood houses, and keep a distance from each other — it did make some allowances.

For instance, dispensaries not wanting to pay the annual $30,000 licensing fee can become a compassion club society — or non-profit — to pay a $1,000 business licence fee instead. And while not allowing edibles, stores may sell tinctures, oil and capsules.

All the councillors called on the federal government to regulate medical marijuana.

But NPA Coun. George Affleck said he expects the regulations to cause a myriad of legal challenges and will cost the city millions of dollars in the future.

Dana Larsen, director of Sensible BC, said he had “mixed feelings” about the vote.

“I’m glad the process is moving forward, and I like some of the things they’re doing,” he said. “On the other hand, I’ve got a dispensary on East Hastings open for seven years ... and now we have to shut down.”

Larsen, who runs the Vancouver Dispensary Society, has to relocate because it’s near a community centre and many stores in his situation will have a hard time finding new spots meeting the city’s demands.

Larsen said he didn’t know if he had legal options, and noted that the B.C. Compassion Club Society — one of the oldest, non-profit medical marijuana dispensaries in Vancouver — would also have to move because it’s across the street from a school.

In a previous interview, Isaac Oommen, society spokesman, said he hoped the city would grandfather them in as they have a good relationship with the school and want to continue to serve the community around them, but it didn’t happen.

Shortly after Vancouver approved the regulations, Health Minister Rona Ambrose — who had sent letters to each councillor appealing for them to stop — sent out a statement expressing how “deeply disappointed” she was with the city.

The Conservative MP also took the opportunity to slight Liberal Party of Canada leader Justin Trudeau.

“These stores have absolutely no regard for the rule of law and have been caught selling marijuana to kids — they represent Justin Trudeau’s vision for Canadian neighbourhoods from coast to coast to coast,” she states.

“Storefronts selling marijuana are illegal and under this Conservative Government will remain illegal.”

Ambrose said she expects the police to enforce the law, and reiterated that point when asked if the government would be taking any action against the city.

http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/2015/06/24/vancouver-approves-pot-dispensary-rules

 

 

 

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