Pubdate: Thu, 08 May 2014
Source: Georgia Straight, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 The Georgia Straight
Contact:  http://www.straight.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1084
Author: Travis Lupick

CANADA'S FIRST MEDICINAL MARIJUANA VENDING MACHINE OPENS IN VANCOUVER

THE B.C. PAIN Society is calling its marijuana vending machine a first
for Canada.

"The idea mainly came from what's happening in the U.S., as well as
safe, secure access to the product," said the dispensary's director,
Chuck Varabioff.

In a telephone interview, he described the machine as more than a
gimmick, noting that distributing the product this way minimizes the
number of hands that touch it.

"When it's packaged and put into a vending machine, it's only handled
once," Varabioff explained. "It's put into a bag, we zip-seal it, heat
seal the bag, and then it's tamper proof and it retains its freshness."

The marijuana vending machine is located at 2908 Commercial
Drive.

According to Varabioff, the bags inside are currently selling for $20
for an eighth up to $50 for a half-ounce of "Master Kush".

"And then we have stuff from $4 a gram in our gumball machine," he
added.

Yes, Canada now also sells pot via a gumball machine.

Access to both devices is restricted to B.C. Pain Society
members.

"It's completely gated off," Varabioff said. "When you walk in, our
staff and volunteers will verify your ID card, and only if you're a
member will you have access to the machine."

The B.C. Pain Society has published a video on YouTube demonstrating
how it all works. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbpiiuVL4uY )

For those wondering how a pot vending machine is allowed, note that
Vancouver's marijuana dispensaries currently operate in something of a
legal grey area.

Federal regulation changes that took effect on April 1 forbid the sale
of medicinal marijuana via dispensaries like the B.C. Pain Society.
According to the Conservative's new Marihuana for Medicinal Purposes
Regulation, cannabis can only be obtained via a mail-order from a
small number of large-scale suppliers. (The implementation of certain
provisions of the MMPR have since been delayed by a court challenge.)

However, civic politicians as well as the Vancouver Police Department
haven't bothered to hide their lack of enthusiasm for the new rules.
Marijuana grown for personal use and medicinal dispensaries that
behave themselves do not appear on the VPD's list of drug unit
priorities.
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MAP posted-by: Matt