Pubdate: Tue, 12 May 2015
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Times Colonist
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html
Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Bill Tate
Page: A7

VICTORIA'S POT SHOPS WORKING FINE AS IS

The new city hall group in Victoria seem to be big advocates of 
social engineering - trying to regulate everyone and everything 
around them. The pot-shop situation is operating just fine as it is, thank you.

There have been no complaints, according to city authorities, and the 
shops do not serve those under 18 years of age. Is this a money grab 
by the city? Eighteen dispensaries paying $30,000 each is $540,000. A 
bloated city staff trying to pay for itself?

Coun. Marianne Alto doesn't want to affect negatively those using the 
dispensaries, but those extra costs will inevitably be passed on to 
the users, who are mostly low-income to begin with. It would be the 
poorest in the city disproportionately supporting city services.

Coun. Geoff Young is correct: Hold off until the marijuana situation 
is cleared up in the federal election in October.

My advice to city hall: Think things through and hold town meetings 
before you jump into matters that you are not conversant with.

Bill Tate Victoria
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom