Pubdate: Fri, 16 Sep 2016
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Jeff Bell
Page: A3

MARIJUANA KEY TO B.C. ECONOMY: ADVOCATES

Marijuana could become more of an an economic engine in the province,
says the B.C. Independent Cannabis Alliance.

That's part of the message the group - linked to more than 400
independent businesses - will be taking to the annual Union of B.C.
Municipalities convention in Victoria at the end of the month.

"The cannabis industry in British Columbia is estimated to be a
multi-billion-dollar industry," spokesman Dieter MacPherson said Thursday.

"The Independent Cannabis Alliance wants to preserve the current
cannabis economy and believes that the best way to do this is to allow
current good actors from the illicit economy to be regulated, taxed
and included."

MacPherson said the right kinds of regulations could sustain thousands
of jobs and create economic opportunity.

Jaclynn Pahota from Cannabis Growers of Canada said B.C. already has
about 40,000 agricultural workers employed in the cannabis sector.

People involved in the industry want to see a "fair cannabis
marketplace" and to have the same responsibilities as other businesses
do, she said.

The alliance's efforts come in advance of the federal government's
promise to bring in legislation next spring to legalize and regulate
marijuana.

In the meantime, other levels of government are having to deal with
the marijuana dispensaries that are popping up in many
communities.

That includes the City of Victoria, which has 38 dispensaries. Changes
to the city's zoning and business-licensing bylaws to accommodate the
sale of medical marijuana take effect this month. Councillors have
said there could be future provisions allowing on-site consumption of
marijuana at facilities that are run by non-profit
organizations.

UBCM has also responded to the issue, MacPherson said.

"Two years running now, the UBCM has passed regulations that state
that storefront dispensaries are definitely within [local
governments'] regulatory jurisdiction, and we expect they're going to
pass, hopefully, a similar motion this year," he said.

"Not only that, but B.C. municipalities are calling for some of the
tax revenue that's going to be earned, so that they can reinvest in
infrastructure."

MacPherson said the alliance needs to emphasize its economic concerns
on a wider scale.

"We are law-abiding citizens, we would like to participate in the
legalization, and so we're going to be working to lobby the provincial
government."

With a provincial election coming up in May 2017, MacPherson said, the
alliance "would like to see all three major parties talking about
B.C.'s economic interests."

The alliance believes production and distribution of marijuana are
provincial issues, and B.C. should have a major role to play, he said.

"We're hoping the province steps up and fights for the small guy."
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