Pubdate: Wed, 28 Oct 2015
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Authors: Bethany Lindsay & Kelly Sinoski
Page: A7

CITIES TREAT DISPENSARIES IN VARYING WAYS ACROSS B.C.

The election of Justin Trudeau's Liberals was cause for jubilation at 
Eden Medicinal Society's five marijuana dispensaries across Vancouver.

"We went into the election hoping that people would be able to see 
through the anti-pot ideology, see the evidence that has mounted, and 
it appears that they did," Eden spokesman Danny Kresnyak said. "Our 
reaction is obviously very positive."

He hopes Trudeau will move quickly on his promise to legalize 
recreational pot, and that at least some of the approximately 120 
illegal dispensaries now operating in Vancouver will be a part of that.

"We're pushing forward best practices, and we would like to invite 
Mr. Trudeau to our locations to show him how the dispensary model can 
work," Kresnyak said.

While the country waits to see when and how the new government will 
bring in legalization, pot shops like Eden face an uncertain future 
as municipalities forge their own paths for dealing with the industry.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has pledged the Liberal victory 
would not affect the city's dispensary regulation scheme, a 
two-tiered licensing system aimed at weeding out for-profit 
dispensaries in favour of nonprofit compassion clubs' shops.

The mayor made good on that promise this week, when the city gave the 
green light to just 11 of 176 dispensaries that have applied for 
licences, allowing them to continue with the application process. The 
remaining 165 pot shops did not meet the requirements for minimum 
distances from schools, recreation centres and other dispensaries.

Kresnyak did not comment on the status of Eden's applications with 
the city, but at least one other dispensary owner is considering 
suing over the process.

Seattle also licensed illegal pot shops before Washington state 
residents voted to legalize marijuana in 2012.

But the Seattle example doesn't bode well for weed retailers here, 
says Tonia Winchester, a Washington state lawyer who worked on the 
citizens' coalition to legalize pot.

"Dispensaries are no longer legal (in Seattle) and they actually 
never were legal. So, dispensaries have been given notice that they 
need to shut down," Winchester said.

Some may be allowed to reopen, but first they'll have to apply to the 
state's liquor and cannabis board for an endorsement to sell to 
medical marijuana customers only.

Miles Light, co-founder of the Marijuana Policy Group in Denver, 
believes Vancouver can get a head start on legal pot sales if the 
existing dispensaries are allowed to become legitimate. "You don't 
want to reward illegal activity, but you have to be pragmatic," he said.

A few other cities across B.C. are throwing their might behind 
Vancouver, with some, like Kimberley, starting to allow compassion 
clubs, which provide medical marijuana to patients. Burnaby is 
studying Vancouver's regulations. Victoria council will consider a 
proposal for some form of regulation of its dispensaries next month, 
Mayor Lisa Helps said. Maple Ridge has had a huge jump in 
dispensaries and treats them as illegal, but Mayor Nicole Read said 
that could change if the Liberals make pot legal.

Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore said the city does not have the legal 
authority to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries and the RCMP 
will shut down those operating illegally.

Abbotsford is trying to close Weeds Glass and Gifts for operating 
without a licence, and will likely take the same action with five 
others operating in the city limits, Mayor Henry Braun said.

In Surrey, a couple of dispensaries were shut down in recent months 
after trying to operate illegally, said Surrey bylaw manager Jas Rehal.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom