Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jun 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: Billm Cleverley
Page: A1

VICTORIA LIKELY TO FOLLOW LEAD OF VANCOUVER ON POT RULES

'Common-sense' approach with dispensaries has Ottawa fuming

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps says the city will likely follow Vancouver's
lead this fall by regulating illegal marijuana dispenseries.

On Wednesday, Vancouver became the first city in Canada to impose new
rules on pot shops. Mayor Gregor Robertson blamed the federal
government for failing to provide proper policies. Health Minister
Rona Ambrose said she was "deeply disappointed" with the decision.

Under the rules, dispensaries must pay a $30,000 licensing fee, be 300
metres away from schools, community centres and each other; some shops
will be banned from certain areas. Non-profit compassion clubs will
pay a fee of $1,000 under a two-tiered licensing system. Victoria
likely will follow Vancouver's lead this fall by regulating illegal
marijuana dispensaries, Mayor Lisa Helps said Wednesday.

"Council has already said it would be good for Victoria to take a
similar approach and now we have Vancouver's concrete leadership. So
now our staff's job is easier," Helps said. "I think it is important
to be in concert and solidarity as we move forward on this really
complex issue."

Vancouver became the first city in Canada to regulate marijuana
dispensaries in what Mayor Gregor Robertson called a common-sense
approach after the federal government's failure to provide proper policies

"We're faced with a tough situation, a complicated situation,"
Robertson said Wednesday after councillors voted 8-3 to impose new
regulations.

"We have this proliferation of dispensaries that must be dealt with,"
he said.

Like Vancouver, Victoria has witnessing a growth spurt in
marijuana-related businesses with shops budding up all over the city.

In May, Victoria council directed staff to develop new regulations for
the shops, patterning their approach after Vancouver. At the time,
staff estimated there were 18 marijuana related businesses operating
in the city. It has since grown to 19.

Vancouver has blamed Ottawa's restrictive medical marijuana laws for
the rise of pot dispensaries in Vancouver - to 94 from fewer than 20
just three years ago.

Health Minister Rona Ambrose had sent strongly worded letters to the
city and police warning against the plan. She said Wednesday she was
"deeply disappointed" with the decision.

"Marijuana is neither an approved drug nor medicine in Canada and
Health Canada does not endorse its use," she said in a statement.
"Storefronts selling marijuana are illegal and under this Conservative
government will remain illegal. We expect the police to enforce the
law."

Helps said police have tried to enforce existing laws, but the cases
repeatedly get thrown out in court. "So the police can do all the
arresting and enforcing they want, but the courts don't lay charges
because it is very difficult to determine who is doing the 'dealing.'
Is it the owner? Is it the 21-year-old employee? So that is the
fundamental challenge that the minister of health and the minister of
justice and the court system are going to have to grapple with
together," Helps said.

Helps said it's better for Victoria and Vancouver to take a united
stand.

"We're going to have to sort this out with the federal government. I
think it's a more cohesive approach if we say: 'Look, these are the
things we are doing as cities and having a united voice with the
federal government rather than each city taking its own approach," she
said.

Vancouver's new rules mean dispensaries must pay a $30,000 licensing
fee, be located 300 metres from schools, community centres and each
other, and some shops will be banned from certain areas.

Vancouver council also voted to create a two-tiered licensing system,
allowing compassion clubs to pay a fee of just $1,000. To qualify as a
compassion club, one must be a registered nonprofit, serve members and
provide a minimum level of other health services such as massage
therapy or acupuncture, as well as be a member of the Canadian
Association of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries.

Helps said she supports a two-tiered approach. "There have been, I
think, compassion clubs in Victoria that have been providing medicine
to people for some time now in a very careful and caring way. They are
not in it to make money. They're in it to provide medicine and they
have been very strong advocates and very good community members. So I
fully support a two-tiered program in Victoria."

Vancouver Coun. Kerry Jang said the clubs provide other services such
as nutritional and psychological counselling and help people
transition from marijuana to other medicine if possible. He suggested
the clubs could funnel the money saved from paying a lower fee towards
the creation of addiction programs.

Coun. Geoff Meggs told council that medical marijuana was not an issue
that the city wanted to take up, but one they were forced to handle
because of Ottawa's "backwards" policies.

The councillor had strong words for Ambrose.

"Wake up. You are completely out of touch with the realities on the
ground," Meggs said.

Jamie Shaw of B.C. Compassion Club Society, Vancouver's oldest
dispensary - and one which would be forced to relocate under new rules
- - called the new regulations a "historic move."

Helps said Victoria staff are expected to report back in September and
that the public will have an opportunity to weigh in on the new
regulations.

Vancouver council's decision comes after four days of public hearings
in which many complained about a proposed ban on edible products such
as brownies and cookies. But the city held firm, arguing the treats
appeal to children and it is difficult to control their contents.
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MAP posted-by: Matt