Pubdate: Fri, 11 Sep 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
Authors: Gordon Hoekstra & Richard Watts
Page: A6

HEALTH CANADA ORDERS POT SHOPS TO SUSPEND ACTIVITIES

Health Canada has sent out letters to a handful of marijuana
dispensaries advertising the sale of pot and called on them to
immediately suspend all activities.

The 13 targeted dispensaries include at least one operation each in
Vancouver and Victoria, and another in Saskatchewan, according to B.C.
Compassion Club Society spokeswoman Jamie Shaw, who is also the
president of the Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis
Dispensaries.

"The sale and advertising of marijuana is illegal. ... You are
encouraging Canadians to engage in conduct that could also expose them
to criminal liability," said the Health Canada letter received by the
Compassion Club Wednesday.

It said if the dispensary does not cease all activities with
controlled substances, Health Canada will contact the RCMP within 30
days "for enforcement action as they deem necessary."

The dispensary has until Sept. 21 to tell Health Canada they will stop
advertising and selling pot without a valid licence.

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said she supports some government regulation
of medical marijuana.

"So in that sense, it's good to see the federal government taking some
action. But I don't think it's the right action," Helps SAID. "The
long arm of the law won't help people get their medicine."

She said it would be better to see the federal government sit down
with growers, patients and dispensaries to devise some sensible
policies and regulations.

Helps said Victoria police have already laid charges at local
marijuana dispensaries. Those charges have invariably been tossed from
court.

"So if the RCMP comes in and lays charges, then I think we'll see the
same thing," she said.

The pot dispensaries - which have proliferated recently, with more
than 100 in Vancouver alone - operate outside Canada's licensed
medical marijuana system. That system allows about 20 industrial
producers to sell dried marijuana to patients by mail.

Shaw said their lawyer is seeking clarity from Health Canada, calling
the letter confusing. She said the compassion club, the oldest
medical-pot dispensary in Canada, operating for nearly 20 years, does
not advertise.

Shaw noted they have about 10,000 members, and have had numerous
discussions with Health Canada in the past.

"We're happy to work on any specific issues or concerns they [Health
Canada] may have, but we can't abandon patients to a regulatory scheme
that doesn't serve them," she said Thursday.

Health Canada did not name the 13 dispensaries.

"Health Canada will attempt to work co-operatively with all parties
involved to encourage compliance. If continued noncompliance is
identified, the department may refer the case to law-enforcement
agencies for appropriate action," said an email from Health Canada
spokesman Patrick Gaebel.
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