Pubdate: Sun, 01 May 2016
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Gemma_Karstens-Smith
Page: A6

VANCOUVER CRACKS DOWN ON UNLICENSED MEDICAL MARIJUANA

VANCOUVER - The City of Vancouver has begun cracking down on
unlicensed medical marijuana shops, but owners say they're still
committed to keeping their doors open.

Prominent pot activist Jodie Emery said at least two dispensaries were
issued $250 fines Saturday, the first day inspectors enforced
regulations that the city put into place last year.

"But the two places I've spoken with are open for business. They're
not going to deny accessibility to their patients," Emery said.

The rules were developed when medical marijuana businesses began
growing across Vancouver, but the city refused to grant permits to 140
dispensaries that didn't comply with rules such as being too close to
schools.

Seven businesses have been issued development permits under the city's
regulations and 13 applications are being reviewed.

Andreea Toma, the city's chief licensing inspector, said last week
that shops that haven't been granted a business licence must pay $250
for every day they remain open and the city could also pursue court
action, including a $10,000 fine or an injunction order forcing stores
to close.

B.C. Pain Society owner Chuck Varabioff has been outspoken about plans
to keep open his Commercial Drive store and said he expected to see
enforcement officers there on Saturday.

By mid-afternoon, he still hadn't been visited, but said he was ready
when inspectors do come calling.

"If they come in with a fine and a ticket, and I have to sign the
ticket, and accept it, I will, and then I'll decide later how and when
and if I'm going to pay it," he said.

Varabioff said his permit was denied because his shop is too close to
a school, though a longtime compassion club that is located even
closer to the school was granted permission to stay open.

He said he wants a fair appeal, and until he gets it, his store will
stay open.

Varabioff said he isn't against regulating medical marijuana
businesses, but wants the city to play fair.

"The city was going forward in a positive way," he said. "But now that
they've cut it back to just a few dispensaries, they've taken one big
step backwards."

The city needs to justify the rules that have been put into place,
Emery said.

"Dispensaries want to be legal, but when the regulations are so
prohibitive as to force them to close down, that needs to be explained
and justified," she said.

Right now, she said, the rules seem arbitrary and enforcing them is
costly, between paying bylaw officers and fighting the legal fights
that she predicts will come up when shops refuse to pay the fines.

"This is going to cause more harm than good," Emery said. "This is
going to force thousands of people to lose their accessibility to
medicine, it's going to cost thousands of people their jobs in
dispensaries and related businesses, and landlords are going to have
empty storefronts once again."

A spokesman for the City of Vancouver declined to comment on the
enforcement measures and said more information would be provided on
Monday.
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MAP posted-by: Matt