Pubdate: Thu, 13 Aug 2015
Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB)
Copyright: 2015 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.winnipegsun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.winnipegsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503
Author: Joyanne Pursaga
Page: 5

POT LOUNGE LEGAL: POLICE

Winnipeg police say a business owner who invites medical marijuana 
smokers to light up inside his lounge isn't actually breaking the law.

Glenn Price, owner of Your Medical Cannabis Headquarters, re-opened 
his Main Street store on Tuesday as a lounge where users can medicate 
with marijuana. He was arrested for selling medical marijuana without 
Health Canada clearance on Aug. 4.

On Wednesday, Winnipeg police confirmed the new format, which no 
longer includes marijuana sales, is not illegal - as long as his 
users don't break the law either.

"Provided Mr. Price does not possess cannabis marijuana without a 
license or registration card, and does not dispense any cannabis 
marijuana to any citizen, he is not breaking the law. If Mr. Price is 
in the presence of cannabis marijuana from another unlicensed or 
unregistered marijuana user, police will investigate that complaint 
like any other," stated the Winnipeg Police Service in an e-mail.

To use the drug legally, a registered medical marijuana user must 
purchase it from a Health Canada-regulated dispensary by mail order 
only, which would ensure it isn't contaminated by mould, pesticides 
or insecticides.

A licence or registration card, which requires a doctor's 
prescription to get, must be carried by the user to legally possess the pot.

"Simply having a prescription for medical marijuana is not enough as 
the application process has not been completed and the individual is 
therefore in violation of the law," the e-mail noted.

Price also hopes to sell T-shirts and other non-drug-related items, 
while he gathers signatures on a petition to allow medical marijuana 
dispensaries in Winnipeg.

Price is currently charged with trafficking a scheduled substance, 
possession of a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking, 
possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime and possession 
of a scheduled substance. He was released on a recognizance.

Medical marijuana dispensaries do operate legally in Vancouver 
without Health Canada clearance.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom