Pubdate: Thu, 11 Aug 2016
Source: Northumberland Today (CN ON)
Page: A1
Copyright: 2016 Sun Media
Contact: http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/letters
Website: http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5003
Author: Pete Fisher

MARIJUANA DISPENSARY OPEN IN ALDERVILLE

ALDERVILLE - A marijuana dispensary appears to be the first of its 
kind in Northumberland County.

The store is called South Shore Wellness - Full Service Cannabis 
Dispensary and is located at 8987 on Hwy. 45 in Roseneath.

The store has been open for approximately two months at the location 
and after a recent visit by Northumberland Today, it seems business 
is flourishing.

It is located in an area where there is another store which would be 
for this type of product including a hydroponic store.

A selection of various types of marijuana, including oil, pot and 
even cookies are available. At the time of the visit by this 
newspaper, the cookies were nearly sold out.

A quick glance at the menu posted on a blackboard lists a number of 
items including names such as White Cookies, Critical Mass, Cherry 
Oil, Pheonix Tears, Green Crack, White Widow, and Grand Daddy.

Prices range, for Green Crack for example, from $15 for a gram to 
$260 for an ounce.

Alderville First Nation Chief Jim Bob Marsden said the store owner, 
who is not a band member, is renting the storefront from an 
Alderville band member.

Though they didn't need permission, the owner of the store did 
approach council, who then checked his credentials.

"He's fully legit and he's got another business in Toronto," Chief 
Marsden said.

In May and June, Toronto Police carried out Project Claudia which saw 
more than 90 people arrested and facing 186 charges as officers 
executed warrants at over 45 storefront locations.

At the south Shore Wellness location, when a person enters they are 
greeted and politely shown how to apply for an exemption with an 
Alderville Wellness Diagnosis Confirmation Form.

It is a two page form requiring information, including what 
conditions you may have been diagnosed with and currently require relief from.

Among the items listed to be checked off are, ADD/ADHD, arthritis, 
Alzheimer's disease, back and neck problems, brain injury, Crohn's 
disease, cancer, colitis, nausea, chronic pain, epilepsy, eating 
disorders, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal problems, hepatitis c, HIV/ 
AIDS, irritable bowel syndrome, kidney failure/dialysis, migraines, 
multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, muscle spasms, Parkinson's 
disease, post tramautic stress disorder, and sleep disorders.

"It's perfectly legal,"Chief Marsden said. "He showed us his licence. 
We checked out his other business in Toronto and it's a fully secured 
medical marijuana facility."

Chief Marsden, though, was unaware if the business in Toronto sells 
medical marijuana.

Though the Alderville First Nation does support medical marijuana, 
they draw the line at recreational selling from storefronts.

"The recreation is going to be a whole different ball of wax," he 
said. "For Alderville we're doing a BCR (Band Council Resolution) 
against that type of business - recreation.

"Medical side is different than storefronts coming into First Nation 
for recreation marijuana," the chief continued. "We're against 
(recreation). We don't want a bunch of store fronts popping up in Alderville."

The resolution will be for a bylaw stating against the selling of 
recreational marijuana in Alderville.

But for the medical side of things, Chief Marsden and Alderville 
First Nation support it as they've researched it and read testimonials.

A phone call expected from the owner of South Shore Wellness to 
comment about the store hadn't been received at press time Wednesday. 
A form available at South Shore Wellness.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom