Pubdate: Fri, 20 Feb 2015 Source: Coast Reporter (CN BC) Copyright: 2015 Coast Reporter Contact: http://www.coastreporter.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/580 Author: John Gleeson Medical Marijuana SECHELT WEEDS STORE SIGNING UP PATIENTS The Weeds Glass and Gifts store in Sechelt is launching a one-week registration drive starting this Saturday, Feb. 21 - and if enough medical marijuana patients sign up, the dispensary could start operating after March 1, store manager Robin Kehler said Wednesday. Kehler said the store would start bringing in cannabis products to sell to members "once we are satisfied with the enrolment and we have the backing and support of local patients who want an alternative to access their medicine." The response so far has been positive, he said. "We live in the growing capital of British Columbia and there are a lot of people who are sick and tired of being treated like criminals. This is an opportunity for people to step up [and show] solidarity." The Vancouver-based dispensary chain is proceeding with its plans to open a Sechelt store despite the Sunshine Coast RCMP's warning that enforcement action would be taken and the District of Sechelt's refusal to issue a business licence. The District formally denied Weeds' business licence application on Feb. 12. "The District's opinion is they are an unlawful activity and should be dealt with by the RCMP," interim chief administrative officer Bill Beamish said. "We don't licence unlawful activities." While an estimated 60 dispensaries in Vancouver and others outside the city are operating without business licences as registered societies, Beamish said having a business licence "is a requirement of any business in the municipality. They're operating in the commercial zone." Asked if the District would try to shut down the store for not having a licence, Beamish said enforcement would be "up to the RCMP." Kehler reiterated the company's position that any attempt to prevent the store from operating as a registered society would result in court action. "They'll get sued," he said. "We'll see them in court." For the registration drive, patients are being asked to bring in their prescriptions, Health Canada licence numbers and contact information for prescribing doctors. "Part of the registration form will also be asking them to tell their personal story," Kehler said, adding that Weeds would assist patients in the task if necessary. "If it does go to court and we have a strong membership, these testimonials will be used as evidence," he said. Kehler was critical of the District for denying the company a business licence without sitting down to meet with the applicants, even after scheduling a meeting for Feb. 12 that brought Weeds owner Don Briere from Vancouver. "We got there at 1:30 and they handed Don a letter of refusal. They just said, 'It's illegal and we can't do this.' They could have easily picked up the phone and cancelled the appointment. All it would have taken was a phone call. Just common courtesy," Kehler said. The Weeds store is scheduled to be open to register members from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily until Saturday, Feb. 28. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt