Pubdate: Wed, 20 Apr 2016
Source: Campbell River Mirror (CN BC)
Page: A1
Copyright: 2016 Campbell River Mirror
Contact:  http://www.campbellrivermirror.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1380
Author: Alistair Taylor

MARIJUANA DISPENSARY REOPENS

WeeMedical, a Campbell River medical marijuana dispensary raided by
police last Thursday, is back open for business this week - with more
limited stock.

"We're just sticking with the edibles at the moment and we're going to
get through this and we're wanting to stay," said Joel Wilson, one of
the partners in WeeMedical which opened its doors on April 1. "So
we're going to be going through and working with the council and the
police and we've got to look at all the other towns that are going
through this.

"It's either get rid of all of them (marijuana dispensaries)
completely or start figuring out bylaws."

The Campbell River RCMP Street Crime unit executed a search warrant on
the marijuana dispensary in the 800 block of 13th Ave. at noon April
14. Police said the search warrant stemmed from an ongoing
investigation led by the street crime unit. Drugs believed to be
marijuana were seized, as well paperwork and cash at that location,
RCMP said.

"Campbell River RCMP is committed to ensuring local businesses are
abiding by federal and provincial law, and will continue to
investigate any businesses believed not to be following these laws,"
said Const. Sara Clark, Media Relations officer for the Campbell River
RCMP.

The investigation is ongoing and at this time no charges have been
laid, Clark said.

Wilson said he wasn't at the store when it was raided but one of his
volunteers were. That person was detained and later released by the
police.

This was the second dispensary that was raided in a week. Trees
Dispensary was raided by the Campbell River RCMP on April 6.

It came after city council made moves at its Monday, April 11 meeting
to make the dispensaries illegal in Campbell River.

It sets up what could be a raucus bylaw hearing on April 25 when
council will hear public input into a bylaw amendment that prohibits
all marijuana operations unless they are legally permitted through
Health Canada and have the proper paperwork to prove it. Council gave
first and second reading to the bylaw which triggers a public hearing.
The hearing will likely take place at the start of the April 25
council meeting and the public is invited to speak to the amendment.

And it appears a lot of the public will be here. WeeMedical is
encouraging its clientele to attend.

"We're having a lot of people showing up for the hearing on April 25
at 6 p.m. People have been signing up non-stop for that and they're
wanting to speak," Wilson said.

In addition, "cannibas activist" Amanada Orem said that a number of
Island-based organizations plan to attend the hearing.

"The cannabis community is quite upset with these raids," she told the
Mirror.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D