Pubdate: Wed, 17 Jun 2015
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Gordon Hoekstra
Page: A6

HEALTH CANADA ISSUES WARNING TO JAZZ FESTIVAL OVER POT ADS

The Vancouver International Jazz Festival said Tuesday it regrets 
including marijuana dispensary ads in its program guide.

The festival has been warned by Health Canada that marijuana 
advertising is illegal.

New federal laws introduced in November 2014 increased fines and 
penalties up to $5 million or two years in prison, or both, for 
advertising marijuana.

Jazz festival representatives declined to be interviewed about the issue.

In a written statement, the festival said the advertisements have 
been pulled from online digital sources, which was done as soon as 
the festival society was made aware of the legalities. "The Society 
outsources its print production and advertising sales to a reputable 
firm," jazz festival spokesman John Orysik said in the written statement.

"Mechanisms have been put in to place to ensure all advertising is 
signed off and checked for legality, so that the incident cannot 
repeat itself," he said.

Four marijuana shop ads were included in the printed guide, which 
includes a listing of its events and welcome messages from Premier 
Christy Clark and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson.

The jazz festival statement noted that its mandate is as a presenter 
of music and a custodian of culture in Canada, and remains focused on 
delivering the highest quality of engagement with the jazz art form 
to the community, and as such, takes no stance on this issue.

There has been a recent proliferation of marijuana dispensary shops 
in Vancouver.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom