Pubdate: Sat, 02 May 2015
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Chad Skelton
Page: A4

72 PER CENT OF VANCOUVER POT SHOPS VIOLATE NEW RULES

More than 70 per cent of the marijuana-related businesses in 
Vancouver are in violation of proposed new city rules that would 
limit how close they can be to schools, community centres or each other.

According to an analysis by The Vancouver Sun, of the 84 pot shops in 
the city, 61 (72 per cent) are within 300 metres of a school, 
community centre, neighbourhood house or another marijuana-related business.

That would not be permitted under new rules the city has proposed to 
try to regulate the city's expanding number of medical marijuana dispensaries.

In a report to council published last week, city staff indicated 
there are now "over 80 confirmed marijuana-related businesses" in the 
city, a fourfold increase since 2012 when the federal government 
changed the rules for how medical marijuana users can buy their 
medicine. In the last four months alone, 20 new shops have opened.

According to the city's business-licence database, that means there 
are now four times as many pot shops in Vancouver as McDonald's (19) 
and nearly as many pot shops as Starbucks (93).

The Sun's analysis found that, of the 84 pot shops the city has 
identified, 37 (44 per cent) are within 300 metres of a school, 
community centre or neighbourhood house and 54 (64 per cent) are 
within 300 metres of another pot shop. Roughly a third (36 per cent) 
are both too close to a school and too close to another shop. 
Distances were calculated as the crow flies rather than according to 
driving distances.

A map of the 84 shops shows that many are clustered in relatively 
small areas, such as along sections of West 10th, East Hastings, 
Commercial Drive and Kingsway. Downtown, for example, only two of the 
15 pot shops are more than 300 metres from another one.

While 72 per cent of the shops violate one or both of the two rules, 
that doesn't mean they will all have to close.

For example, if two pot shops are located across the street from each 
other, but far from any others, only one will have to shut its doors. 
The city has said that, in cases where pot shops are clustered 
together, the city will grade them - giving out demerit points for 
problems such as visits from police or complaints from the community 
- - and the one with the most points can stay. In the case of a tie, a 
lottery will be held.

In addition to the proximity rules, the city has also proposed 
requiring pot shop staff to undergo criminal record checks and 
charging a $30,000 licensing fee, significantly more than that paid 
by other businesses.

The federal government has urged the city not to proceed with its 
regulations, saying storefront sales of marijuana remain illegal.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom