Pubdate: Wed, 12 Feb 2014
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2014 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/send_a_letter
Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Aldo Santin

BAN STORES NEAR SCHOOLS: EADIE

Head shops will be banned from operating near schools if a civic
committee has its way.

Councillors on the protection and community services committee on
Monday instructed the administration to review procedures that would,
through zoning regulations, control retailers selling drug
paraphernalia.

"I don't have a problem with them operating, but having them close to
schools is sending a message to school-aged children that we condone
the drug lifestyle," Coun. Ross Eadie said.

Eadie said the so-called head shops -- legitimate retailers whose
inventory includes materials used in the enjoyment of marijuana,
including rolling papers and pipes of various designs -- used to be
located in the downtown area. He said more and more seem to now be
located outside the core and near schools.

Coun. Scott Fielding, who brought the issue to the committee Monday,
said if head-shop businesses were zoned as conditional use, then their
location would be subject to a public hearing where residents could
voice their concerns.

The issue of head-shop operators came to the forefront last week when
the owner of the Hemp Haven store in Elmwood was charged with selling
drug paraphernalia and the owner of the popular Osborne Village store
Wild Planet said the apparent police crackdown is prompting him to
sell his business.

Winnipeg police issued a statement Friday denying a crackdown is in
force, although they admitted they have visited "many" shops recently
"to discuss complaints brought forward by community members,
organizations and school administrations."

One operator, however, said police gave him 30 days to get rid of the
drug paraphernalia or face arrest.

Coun. Harvey Smith expressed caution that his colleagues might be
overreacting, adding he wants any administrative report to include
data on how many head shops operate in the city and where they are
located.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D