Pubdate: Thu, 01 Feb 2018
Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN)
Copyright: 2018 The Leader-Post Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.leaderpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361
Author: Brabdon Harder
Page: A5

'CHARACTER' OF POT SHOPS FACTOR IN PERMIT PROCESS

While police haven't dropped the hammer on any of Regina's pot shops
yet, Chief Evan Bray says storefront owners should think twice about
trying to fight the man.

"If you want to get a licence once it's legalized and have this retail
business forevermore, I would suggest you'd want to be assessed with
good character," he said following Wednesday's board of police
commissioners meeting.

In assessing applications for storefront marijuana sales licences,
"good character" will be on SLGA's list of boxes in need of ticking,
Bray said, pointing to a section of the Alcohol and Gaming Regulation
Act.

On granting beverage alcohol permits, the Act says: "The authority
shall not issue a permit to an applicant if the authority has evidence
that the authority considers credible and reliable that the applicant
is not of good character."

That includes considering such things as "the applicant's reputation,
past conduct, integrity, financial history or competence," and "any
other evidence that the authority considers relevant."

Despite repeated warnings this month, police have yet to raid any of
the city's dispensaries.

"It's not in our best interest right now to start a war," Bray
said.

The force is still in the "education phase," and some storefront
owners have been contacted directly. Police want to ensure all parties
know exactly what the law is, "and once that's done, give them a
chance to comply."

However, criminal charges are a definite possibility for those who
choose to continue to break the law. And once they've been educated,
their understanding of the law will be documented, Bray said.

Regarding dispensaries being robbed, Bray said the force knows of two,
but added: "We've been told, anecdotally, that they're not all being
reported."

"I think we know the reason why," he said. "Currently, it's not
legal."

Those operating outside the law are often reluctant to report being
robbed for fear of repercussions, Bray said, giving the example of gun
owners who don't properly store their firearms.

However, when police respond to a robbery, they view it primarily as a
community safety issue.

"Police discretion is something that's always there," he said, noting
the police priority in cases where dispensaries are robbed wouldn't be
on charging the business.

"When we talk about community safety, we're not alienating anyone,
including the people that work at and own and operate dispensaries,
right now."
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MAP posted-by: Matt