Pubdate: Thu, 11 Jun 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: Mike Hager
Page: S1

DOZENS ATTEND MEETING TO OPINE ON MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

More than 160 speakers, mostly marijuana advocates, crowded into 
Vancouver's City Hall on Wednesday night to weigh the city's plan to 
become the first in Canada to attempt to regulate medical pot 
dispensaries, which have exploded into a booming, but legally 
questionable, industry.

Brina Levitt, owner Green Penguin Delights, a company that makes 
edible marijuana, came to ask that dispensaries be allowed to 
continue to sell more than just dried marijuana. City staff are 
recommending that "edibles" be outlawed under the new rules because 
they are unregulated and marijuana cookies and candies appeal to children.

"I'm here to argue that the edible ban is not feasible nor is it safe 
for the patients, or the youth, it purports to protect," her speech 
stated. "By banning edibles, you are promoting the resurgence of 
street-level distribution of unregulated, unrestricted, untested and 
unsafe food products."

Ms. Levitt said she first started using marijuana last year after no 
other medications managed to help her with back pain from a bicycle 
accident. She was unimpressed with the edible products available in 
Vancouver's dispensaries and began her company to supply clearly 
labelled, safe and reliable products.

She said she supports the dispensaries because "they're selling to 
patients, access is restricted, it's off the streets and they're not 
selling to minors."

Under the current law, all of the dispensaries are illegal - whether 
they are selling dried marijuana or any other form - but that hasn't 
prevented the city from looking for ways to exert control.

The city is considering creating a special business licence category 
for "marijuana-related" businesses, including dispensaries, and rules 
that include a $30,000 yearly licensing fee as well as mandating that 
these shops be located at least 300 metres away from schools, 
community centres and neighbourhood houses.

Vancouver has at least 98 dispensaries, according to statistics 
released by the city - by far the most of any city in the country. In 
contrast, previous stats have suggested at least 35 other 
dispensaries are located elsewhere in B.C. and at least 21 are spread 
throughout the rest of the country.

The city's new rules will be studied keenly by other cities wary of a 
federal government strongly opposed to the dispensaries and even 
medical marijuana.

Dana Larsen, a long-time marijuana legalization advocate and owner of 
two dispensaries, helped organize a two-hour training session for 
people who wanted to speak in favour of the regulations to practise 
their speeches and learn "effective public narrative techniques."

Mr. Larsen's group, Sensible BC, which failed in 2013 to force a 
referendum on legalization, organized dozens of speakers to attend Wednesday.

The group's key concern is over "excessive" buffer zones mandating 
distances between dispensaries as well as keeping them away them from 
schools and community centres. He said he expects the imposed 
distances could eliminate two-thirds of Vancouver's 98 dispensaries.

Pamela McColl, spokesperson for Smart Approaches to Marijuana Canada, 
said her organization, one of the most vocal groups opposed to the 
dispensaries, would boycott the hearings except for one 18-year-old 
representative sent to raise concerns about the negative effect the 
dispensaries have on children.

"We think that this city doesn't understand the crisis in this 
country is its youth," Ms. McColl said Wednesday. "To expose the 
public to a product that's not tested is just irresponsible."

Her group is concerned that dispensaries will get an air of 
legitimacy through city regulations and that they only increase young 
people's access to the drug. She said Canadian youth represent the 
largest segment of the population smoking marijuana in the country 
and have some of the highest statistics of cannabis use in the Western world.

In 37 e-mails submitted to the city before the hearing, Ms. McColl 
outlined how her group is trying to block the city's plan through 
various channels. Those include a complaint filed to the province's 
municipal police watchdog alleging the Vancouver department is 
failing to enforce the law and plans to file a legal challenge 
alleging the city broke its own bylaws in issuing a handful of 
dispensaries different permits.

The federal Conservative government has vocally opposed Vancouver's 
plan to license dispensaries, with Health Minister Rona Ambrose and 
Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney writing councillors in April 
urging them not to proceed. The government has refused to say whether 
it will intervene to prevent the city from moving forward.

Public pressure on the city to regulate the dispensaries in some way 
has mounted over the past several years, as the number of pot shops 
has risen exponentially from just 14 in 2002.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and councillors have avoided 
commenting on the proceedings while they're in process.

More than 160 speakers signed up for the hearings, which are slated 
to begin again Thursday at 6 p.m.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom