Pubdate: Thu, 15 Jan 2015
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Vancouver 24 hrs.
Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/letters
Website: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: Stefania Seccia
Page: A1

VANCOUVER MEDICAL POT STORES GROWING LIKE WEEDS

Don Briere has hardly any time to stay in one place to chat because of
the demand his Weeds Glass & Gifts chain store is serving.

What skyrocketed Briere into notoriety in 2004 - opening up the Da
Kine cafe on Commercial Drive that was dramatically raided by SWAT
teams - has now turned into a prosperous business over the last 17
months as he's opened a chain of 11 medical marijuana dispensaries in
Vancouver. He's now eyeing three more in the near future across
municipalities in B.C.

And the more than 40 dispensaries in Vancouver are operating thanks to
a fertile mixture including a legal grey area with federal legislation
regarding medical marijuana distribution, and several related cases
making their way through the courts.

"We're contributing to society," Briere said. "We support the police
100%. What we're not doing is buying guns, heroine and cocaine."

One of Briere's stores was recently targeted by an armed robber
looking to score free pot - making away with a few hundred dollars
worth of weed. Although it's a rare case, he said the incident has led
him to increase security measures.

Stores such as Briere's have sprung up quickly as they operate in a
commercial space and the city is reluctant to come down on them
because they have to be consistent with federal law, according to
Vancouver Coun. Kerry Jang.

Jang likened medical pot dispensaries popping up like Starbucks did as
it has become a form of "mainstream business," despite there being no
business licence category for it.

"(Stores) opening up across Vancouver ... suggests there's a demand
across the city," he said.

Const. Brian Montague, Vancouver Police Department spokesman, said the
simple answer is these stores are illegal, marijuana is illegal, but
the execution of the law has become complex.

"We're dealing with individuals that are operating businesses that are
unlicensed, unregulated and providing product that has no quality
control," he said. "But our priority is those individuals
participating in violent crime."
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MAP posted-by: Matt