Pubdate: Thu, 15 Sep 2016
Source: Peterborough Examiner, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Peterborough Examiner
Contact: http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/letters
Website: http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2616
Author: Joelle Kovach
Page: A1

WARNING GIVEN TO POT SHOP

Lineups at city's first storefront marijuana store, even though police
say it's illegal

A new marijuana shop that has been swamped with customers since
opening on George St. N. on Friday is operating illegally, say city
police.

Peterborough Police stated in a release that they are investigating
Cannabis Culture, a store at 282 George St. N (in the former Circus
furniture store location).

The store sells marijuana for medical or recreational use. It's open
10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

On Tuesday, police hand-delivered a letter to owner Richard Standen to
tell him that the store's being investigated.

Yet Standen unconcerned.

He was so busy Wednesday he ran out of marijuana. He had to close the
store for a few hours to re-stock.

Standen said some of his customers find relief from pain when they buy
his "high quality" weed.

"We're not criminals - we're trying to help everyone," he
said.

"I'm hoping police realize what we're doing here is a community-based
project, really."

Cannabis Culture is a chain that also has stores in Toronto and
Vancouver.

It's the first marijuana store to open in Peterborough. Another
company indicated plans to open downtown earlier this summer, but
didn't open after all.

Marijuana stores are illegal, even though Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau has promised to soon legalize weed. The federal government is
expected to introduce legislation next year.

In the meantime, only patients with a doctor's prescription can access
marijuana legally. Even then, they have to get it from licensed providers.

City police Deputy Chief Tim Farquharson said Wednesday that the store
owner isn't operating a "community-based project" at all.

"This is a person who's trying to make money, operating a business -
and there's nothing legal behind him," Farquharson said.

He also said it's illegal to buy marijuana from the store; you could
be charged with possession of illegal drugs, if you're caught with
weed.

Yet the police haven't shut down the store. Farquharson said they've
served Standen with a notice and are watching closely. He wouldn't
disclose anything about the investigation.

Earlier this year, a dispensary opened near Roseneath and was soon
raided by the OPP. The store owner was arrested.

That didn't seem to worry Standen, who said police had been "polite"
when they visited his store.

Maybe he's too busy to worry. On Wednesday, his store was
packed.

It smelled strongly of weed as people jostled in the lineup - men and
women, young and old.

At about 12:30 p.m., Standen told a dozen customers in the lineup that
he was out of marijuana.

They were each given a coupon for a free gram of weed when they
return. Two hours later, they were open for business again.

All that's required to buy marijuana at Cannabis Culture is a piece of
identification proving you're 19 or older. Standen said he's been
getting customers as young as 20 and as old as 75.

He said he offers a high-quality product and that he is hiring local
people in the store.

"It shouldn't be treated as a criminal business."
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MAP posted-by: Matt