Pubdate: Fri, 01 May 2015
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2015 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Ian Bailey
Page: S1

VICTORIA CONSIDERING DISPENSARY OVERHAUL

Victoria's mayor says she is closely watching Vancouver's bid to 
regulate marijuana dispensaries because there may be lessons as the 
B.C. capital grapples with the "regulatory quagmire" associated with 
such operations.

"Our staff are working very closely to figure out what they have done 
that we could also do," Lisa Helps said in an interview.

Ms. Helps said city staff have been looking at the issue for several 
months and are expected to offer some recommendations by May 7.

Over the objections of Ottawa, Vancouver is planning to regulate 
locations of dispensaries and impose a $30,000 business licence on 
new and existing operations.

While Victoria is considering action, Surrey - B.C.'s second largest 
city - is essentially sitting out the debate.

Bylaw enforcement manager Jas Rehal said on Thursday the city does 
not permit dispensaries and patients must get marijuana for medical 
needs from federally sanctioned sources.

"Our policy is quite clear," Mr. Rehal said, adding that no 
discussions have been held about changing that policy. "We're 
comfortable with it."

Sav Dhaliwal, president of the Union of B.C. Municipalities, said on 
Thursday he has not heard much about the dispensary issue from members.

He expects Lower Mainland municipalities may submit resolutions for 
discussion at the annual convention in September.

Victoria has 15 dispensaries. "Every week or two weeks, it feels like 
there's a new one popping up with no oversight because the city has 
no tools to regulate where they go," Ms. Helps said.

She said inaction is not an option for dealing with issues they 
raise, notably a concern that non-patients may get marijuana there.

"We can't do nothing. It's a regulatory quagmire," Ms. Helps said.

"Medical marijuana is legal. The federal government has made that 
clear. Producing marijuana for medical purposes is also legal. The 
main step is how to get that into people's hands," she said.

She said dispensaries will not be closed. "We have no jurisdiction to 
do that and people do need access, but it needs to be done the way 
Vancouver is approaching it, in a regulatory regime, not just ad hoc 
as it is right now," she said.

The mayor said she is aware that federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose 
has said Vancouver should abandon its plans because they might 
normalize access to marijuana for youth.

But the federal minister is refusing to say how she might back up her 
concerns, prompting some to suggest the Conservatives want the issue 
alive to rally support from their base in the fall federal election. 
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has rejected Ms. Ambrose's request.

Ms. Helps said Ms. Ambrose should work with Mr. Robertson to resolve 
the issue, but added that cities cannot wait for help from higher 
levels of government.

"If we wait around for senior levels of government to rescue us, half 
the stuff we need to do wouldn't get done. This is, again, another 
situation where local governments need to take leadership."

In a statement issued on Thursday in response to a query from The 
Globe and Mail, the Victoria Police Department said it is aware of 
marijuana dispensaries and is working with the municipality, Health 
Canada, and federal prosecutors on a "co-ordinated approach."

The force said it would continue acting in the public interest to 
enforce federal laws around the illegal sale or trafficking of 
prohibited substances with particular concern about risks to young 
people as well as weapons, organized crime or the prospect of 
"significant disruption" to public peace.
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