Pubdate: Mon, 16 May 2016
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Page: 6
Copyright: 2016 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.torontosun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Maryam Shah

STORES UP IN SMOKE

Hefty Fines On Way: Officials

The grass soon won't look so green for Toronto's pot
dispensaries.

With at least 78 marijuana dispensaries operating in the city, bylaw
officers will be hitting them with hefty fines for zoning bylaw
violations by the end of the month, according to municipal officials.

"In this case, because these types of activities and uses are not
permitted, then yes, that would be the end goal, that these places are
shut down," said Mark Sraga, Toronto's director of licensing and standards.

But Sraga said he would be surprised to see anyone shutter their
storefront dispensaries just yet.

"There may be a couple of business owners that realize that the
ramifications of continuing on are not worth the penalties they may
face, so there may be a few," he said. "But I just don't see the
majority of them (shutting down) based upon the blatant disregard for
the rules as it is now."

Maximum fines for violating zoning bylaws are $50,000 for a
corporation or $25,000 for individuals. Penalties are ultimately
determined by the courts.

Despite the city's concerns, it's open season for dispensaries.

Walk out of Chester subway station and stroll along Danforth Ave. and
you'll find three marijuana-related businesses within spitting
distance of each other. Two of them are storefronts.

Sraga insists there is no grey area.

"Our zoning bylaw just does not allow for them," he
said.

Existing laws only allow licensed medical marijuana producers to work
out of industrial areas and ship their product to clients. The federal
government has not spelled out details yet of its plan to legalize
marijuana.

"The legalization of marijuana, in general, for recreational use,
maybe it's a completely different set of rules," Sraga said. "I don't
know, and I can't anticipate that."

But the owner of one of the Danforth-Chester Aves. dispensary
storefronts said he'll deal with fines when they come.

"It is what it is," said Michael, who didn't want his last name used.
"When it happens, then we'll just have to deal with it and take it
from there."

Michael opened up Weeds, Glass and Gifts last fall. His store sells
medicinal marijuana to people over the age of 19 with a prescription
"of some sort," he said.

They've helped people with a range of illnesses, from cancer to
anxiety, he added. "Every person that comes in here has a medical
ailment and we require that."

The neighbouring marijuana-related businesses did not respond to a
request for interviews.

Even Michael came close to not talking, saying he's tired of sounding
like a "broken record," repeating his story to reporter after reporter.

"We employ lots of people - you're looking at jobs, you're looking at
storefronts that will be empty," he stressed.

Toronto Police, meanwhile, will investigate when the force receives a
complaint or when there's a public safety issue, spokesman Mark Pugash
said.

"Our drug squad concentrates on trafficking significant amounts of
drugs," he said. "Keep in mind that we have to make decisions every
day about the best use of our officers."  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D