Pubdate: Fri, 08 May 2015
Source: North Shore News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 North Shore News
Contact:  http://www.nsnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/311
Author: Maria Spitale-Leisk

CITY MULLS MEDICAL MARIJUANA SHOPS

Licence request sparks pot dispensary debate

The City of North Vancouver is mulling a business licence application
from a resident who is strongly intent on opening the first medical
marijuana dispensary in the community.

Weeds Glass and Gifts at 991 Marine Dr. had a "soft opening" in April,
and now store co-owner Michael Wuest wants to provide medical
marijuana to North Shore residents who he says are crossing the bridge
to get prescription cannabis.

"Hopefully, we will be up and running soon - and not just to open and
close, but to stay," Wuest told the News on Monday.

As it stands, Weeds, which only sells pot paraphernalia at this point
and not the drug itself, is operating in the city without a business
licence because it's part of a compassion club.

The Marine Drive location is one of a string of stores in the Weeds
Glass and Gifts chain headquartered in Vancouver and which sells
medical marijuana in its shops across the water.

It's a grey market in the City of Vancouver where medicinal pot
dispensaries have been proliferating at such a fast pace that city
officials are now looking at regulating and thereby legitimizing those
businesses.

It is illegal to sell medical marijuana over the counter - under
Health Canada regulations, patients are given dried buds by mail order
from federally licensed growers - but so far the unsanctioned shops
have continued to operate in Vancouver with little intervention from
law enforcement.

According to Wuest, there are roadblocks for patients that take the
regulated medicinal marijuana avenue, including having to register
with the federal government.

"We basically know what conditions Health Canada issues licences for,
and (in Vancouver) we cut to the chase," said Wuest, adding that his
customers are looking for relief from ailments ranging from chronic
sleep issues to depression.

When asked about potential public health concerns should a pot
dispensary open in the city, Dr. Mark Lysyshyn, medical health officer
for the North Shore, said there are many. "We suspect a lot of people
who want recreational marijuana are obtaining it through these
dispensaries," said Lysyshyn.

There is also no quality control for the marijuana that could
potentially be mouldy or contain pesticides, according to Lysyshyn.

Lysyshyn said he would support North Van city in developing marijuana
dispensary regulations such as restricting the operating hours and
limiting the distance of the businesses from schools.

When it comes to verifying their clients' documentation, Wuest said
Weeds is vigilant about that. "We obviously don't sell to minors,"
said Wuest. "We need proof of ID before we even consider providing
someone with cannabis or any of its products."

However, just last week, Vancouver police raided a Weeds store in that
city after it was alleged a 15-year-old was hospitalized after
consuming one of their edible products.

Wuest said he has heard conflicting stories about the age of the
person who became sick and whether or not the pot was sold at the
store, adding the company is still investigating the incident.

Weeds wants to be as above board as possible, said Wuest, which is why
he has approached the city for a licence.

City of North Vancouver spokesperson Connie Rabold confirmed Weeds has
requested a business licence, but said it is for retail purposes, not
dispensing medical marijuana.

While there is no category for medical pot dispensary permits right
now, the subject is expected to go before city council in the weeks
ahead, said Rabold, adding that this is the first formal request.

Four years ago a medical marijuana dispensary was attempted for Deep
Cove but North Van district council put the kibosh on those plans
after voting unanimously to ban dispensaries unless the federal
government decides to regulate them.

Wuest said Weeds wants to contribute by paying taxes to the city and
employing people in the community, which so far hasn't welcomed the
business with open arms.

"It took us a year to find a landlord that was willing to go with us,"
said Wuest. "Some of them just don't want to have anything to do with
cannabis at all."

Coun. Rod Clark supports people using medicinal marijuana and goes one
step further, saying Canada needs to go the way of Washington State
and completely legalize marijuana.

"To me, marijuana is no big deal. So as far as I'm concerned, the
sooner we go to legalization the better," said Clark, adding it would
need to be done in a studious fashion similar to the Washington State
model.

Should Wuest start selling medicinal marijuana from his North Van
storefront, it will be up to the RCMP to decide how they will enforce
the law around controlled substances.

"All businesses in our communities are expected to operate within the
law," stated RCMP Federal Criminal Operations spokesperson Sgt. Laurie
White, in an email. "Anyone violating the law may find themselves the
subject of a criminal investigation and subsequently answering to the
courts for their actions."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt