Pubdate: Fri, 08 May 2015
Source: Nelson Star (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Black Press
Contact:  http://www.bclocalnews.com/kootenay_rockies/nelsonstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4866
Author: Will Johnson

NELSON GRAPPLES WITH POT DISPENSARIES

City Needs a Comprehensive Plan to Deal With the Potential Influx of 
Marijuana-Selling Establishments

According to Nelson Mayor Deb Kozak, if there's one local issue 
that's more polarizing than the recently overturned downtown dog ban, 
it's the growing concern around the implications of marijuana legalization.

"This is an extremely complicated issue and people are either 
passionately for or against it. That's why it becomes tricky to talk 
about," Kozak told the Star this week, after locally evicted 
marijuana dispensary Qunnabu Healing Society made our front page.

"Obviously we've been paying close attention to what's happening 
south of the border with legalization. I know Vancouver is trying to 
regulate their dispensaries, and the federal government seems to be 
coming down pretty hard on them. Knowing what our community is like I 
think it's time we have this discussion."

Kozak was making reference to a letter from Health Minister Rona 
Ambrose, addressed to Vancouver's Mayor Gregor Robertson, in which 
she warned that normalizing marijuana use "could mean more than 
tripling its use by youth". She also refuted claims that dispensaries 
operate in a "grey zone".

"The law is clear," Ambrose wrote. "They are illegal."

I first read the letter when it was forwarded to me by Nelson's 
Deputy Chief Paul Burkart, who spear-headed the campaign to oust 
Qunnabu. But already there are two new dispensaries in the works, and 
it's falling to his police department to find creative ways to 
discourage their proliferation.

Burkart told me 24-year-old director Kyle Lindroos was breaking the 
law when he began dispensing his variety of cannabis-themed products 
within a few blocks of city hall, but they opted to take an 
"educational approach" rather than arresting him.

I was curious as to why Lindroos was being targeted while other 
long-term establishments continue to distribute marijuana to hundreds 
of members in the community. As my editor Greg Nesteroff said, it 
seems like these places are "sprouting up like Starbucks".

So what can we do about it?

Illegal storefronts

Burkart said the Nelson Police Department's stance on the issue is 
straightforward: "storefronts are illegal and we will treat them as illegal."

That being said, given current manpower constraints, they're not 
proactively pursuing marijuana-related investigations unless they 
receive "complaints based on fact" from the community. In the case of 
Lindroos' Front Street Emporium location, a number of people 
approached them with concerns.

Burkart said they don't have an official count of the dispensaries 
operating in Nelson, but noted they've been approached by groups 
enquiring about the legality. In every instance, they've attempted to 
dissuade people from bringing their business to town.

"We can't know a number for sure. There may be three or four in 
different locations, and of course there's many that are working underground."

Burkart said the police have been instructed to hold off on 
marijuana-related investigations until pending court cases conclude.

"The Crown has been saying 'wait to see what the courts have to say'."

Cannabis Controversy

Kozak said she's never met Lindroos, nor has she been involved in any 
conversations about how to regulate the local dispensary market.

"From what I understand Mr. Lindroos was shut down because there was 
smoking of the product on the premises, which isn't allowed. I'm not 
sure what all the rules are, who can sell and when. But as a council 
we have not had that discussion."

Kozak said she was unaware of the other pot-selling establishments in 
town, and suggested they've successfully "flown under the radar until 
this point."

"When they come in to buy a business license, they pay for it and that's that."

Kozak expressed ambivalence about the marijuana issue, saying it's 
"not a top priority", but she acknowledged that it's becoming more 
pressing as dispensaries start to flood into town to take advantage 
of what some are calling the "Green Rush".

While on city council Kozak supported an anti-violence initiative put 
forward by marijuana law reform group Stop the Violence BC, and 
during last year's election she earned the endorsement of Sensible BC.

"These are retired police chiefs, politicians and judges. These are 
people who have been dealing with this issue for a long time. They're 
saying very clearly our current laws aren't working."

But that doesn't mean she wants to be associated with the 
controversial plant, nor does she support storefront locations for 
dispensaries.

"I don't want to be remembered as the pot mayor," she told me. 
"That's not who I am."

Asking questions

Kozak said the community needs to find a better way to grapple with 
the complicated issues surrounding addiction and mental health distress.

"What is the core issue here? It's about addiction and giving people 
the freedom of choice and support they need. And if you want to talk 
about it in dollars and cents, with the cost of policing and health 
care, we're talking about a lot of people's lives being destroyed. 
There has got to be a better way."

During the election, Sensible BC asked whether Kozak would encourage 
the Nelson Police Board to take a more lenient stance on marijuana. 
She said though she's now taken on the role, she isn't aware what the 
current stance is.

"I'm only one member of a six-person board, and I've only been to 
four meetings. This has not come up at all. I haven't heard anything 
about a crackdown or anything like that. I need to start asking those 
questions."

Burkart agrees.

He said the city needs to create a comprehensive plan on how to 
regulate this fledgling market, otherwise the task of keeping the lid 
on the industry will continue to fall to them.

"Somebody, it won't be us, will have to come up with regulations. 
They'll have to explore the fees, the rules. That's exactly what 
Vancouver is looking to do now."

Burkart said anticipating legalization is no big deal.

"If at some point they legalize, we'll live with that the same way 
we've lived with the home grows all this time. Now with dispensaries 
it's the same thing. "

Public input

Nelson Sensible BC spokesperson Herb Couch praised Vancouver's move 
to regulate the dispensary market, and said the same thing is needed locally.

"We've had our local compassion club since 1999. Do we need another 
dispensary? The market will decide, I guess. If someone wanted to set 
one up, it would be wise to lobby council to set up guidelines."

Couch said a public hearing is needed.

"We need to ensure medical marijuana patients have reliable access to 
the medicine," he said.

Meanwhile, Lindroos said he's moving ahead with his third location.

Burkart said they're aware of his intentions, and will be keeping an 
eye on the situation. I plan to do the same thing.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom