Unanimous Motion Follows Stop the Violence B.C. Presentation MARIJUANA prohibition has "failed miserably," says the City of North Vancouver's council, who voted unanimously Monday to call for decriminalization and regulation of the drug. "It's an issue whose time has come," said Coun. Rod Clark. "It's a fundamental question for our society. It's now time to embrace a science-based solution, one that recognizes the failures of prohibition and the restrictions of the past." The vote followed an extensive presentation from Dr. Evan Wood, a practising St. Paul's Hospital physician as well a professor and researcher at the UBC faculty of medicine. He was invited to council to represent the Stop the Violence B.C. coalition. [continues 1023 words]
THE City of North Vancouver is reconsidering its policy of billing landlords for the cost of removing marijuana grow operations or drug labs discovered on their property. The 2004 bylaw has only been used once, after a marijuana operation was found in a rented apartment on the 1600-block of MacKay Avenue in March of 2010. The tenants had set up a hydroponic system for their 86 plants using the home's sprinklers. The flow from the sprinklers alerted firefighters, who discovered the secret garden and brought in the RCMP. The renters did not return. [continues 428 words]
Council Members Talk Land Use; Say Licensing Is a Federal Issue Deep Cove resident Ken Starr is blasting District of North Vancouver councillors for blocking his plans to open a medical marijuana dispensary in a commercial space just off Mount Seymour Parkway. At a special meeting Tuesday, district council voted unanimously to ban dispensaries unless the federal government decides to regulate them. "I don't think any one of them has a soul in there," Starr said after the vote. "They all say they're compassionate, but not in my backyard. Typical form of NIMBYism. It's very disheartening and sad. I've lost hope in any of those councillors and a lot of people who have spoken up against this. It's a sad mark on humanity." [continues 549 words]
'Very Significant Number of People' Opposed to Having Such Facilities in Neighbourhood, Councillor Says Deep Cove resident Ken Starr is blasting District of North Vancouver councillors for blocking his plans to open a medical marijuana dispensary in a commercial space just off Mount Seymour Parkway. At a special meeting Tuesday, district council voted unanimously to ban dispensaries unless the federal government decides to regulate them. "I don't think any one of them has a soul in there," Starr said after the vote. [continues 594 words]
A proposed ban on dispensing medical marijuana without explicit federal approval drew medical marijuana users, legalization activists and residents from across the North Shore into the District of North Vancouver's council chambers Tuesday night for a standing-room-only public hearing. The draft bylaw comes in response to an abortive attempt by the Re-Leaf Dispensary Society to begin selling pot to prescription-holding patients in Deep Cove. Police officers and district bylaw staff converged on the premises Saturday to prevent the dispensary from opening. [continues 988 words]
RCMP, Bylaw Officers Warn Of Consequences The opening of a medical marijuana dispensary in Deep Cove was blocked Saturday morning by RCMP officers and District of North Vancouver officials. Re-Leaf Dispensary Society planned to open its doors in a business space on the corner of Deep Cove Road and Mount Seymour Parkway, but the society's management changed their minds after visits from the police and district staff. "Our uniformed officers went to the location in Deep Cove and advised them of the legal consequences if they attempted to open up a dispensary to sell marijuana," said Cpl. Richard DeJong, spokesman for the North Vancouver RCMP detachment. [continues 550 words]
Council Debates June 21 After Public Talked 4 Hours A proposed ban on dispensing medical marijuana without explicit federal approval drew medical marijuana users, legalization activists and residents from across the North Shore into the District of North Vancouver's council chambers Tuesday night for a standing-room-only public hearing. The draft bylaw comes in response to an abortive attempt by the Re-Leaf Dispensary Society to begin selling pot to prescription-holding patients in Deep Cove. Police officers and district bylaw officers converged on the premises June 11 to prevent the dispensary from opening. [continues 329 words]
NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. - A North Vancouver man who has been languishing in a Mexican prison for more than two years without trial has had the bulk of his charges dismissed, but is still facing several more months behind bars. Pavel Kulisek was charged with drug trafficking and participating in organized crime. The drug charges have been dismissed but the dismissal must now be reviewed by another Mexican panel. The organized crime charges will not proceed until that review is completed, a process that is supposed to take three months but may take up to a year. [continues 401 words]
