Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jun 2015 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2015 Canwest Publishing Inc. Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wEtbT4yU Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286 Author: Laura Kane Page: A2 VANCOUVER TO REGULATE MARIJUANA DISPENSERS VANCOUVER - The City of Vancouver has become the first in Canada to regulate illegal marijuana dispensaries, with the mayor saying it's a common-sense approach after the federal government's failure to provide proper policies. "We're faced with a tough situation, a complicated situation," Gregor Robertson said Wednesday after councillors voted 8-3 to impose new regulations. "We have this proliferation of dispensaries that must be dealt with." The new rules mean dispensaries must now pay a $30,000 licensing fee, be located 300 metres from schools, community centres and each other, and some shops will be banned from certain areas. But in an unexpected move, the city voted to create a two tiered licensing system, allowing non-profit compassion clubs to pay a fee of just $1,000. Coun. Kerry Jang said the clubs provide other services such as nutritional and psychological counselling and help people transition from marijuana to other medicine if possible. He suggested the clubs could funnel the money saved from paying a lower fee toward the creation of addiction programs. Jang said he was disappointed that some councillors opposed the regulations without putting forward amendments, saying they had "stuck their heads in the sand." Coun. Geoff Meggs had strong words in council for federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose, who has urged the city to uphold Canada's laws that make retail marijuana sales illegal. "Wake up. You are completely out of touch with the realities on the ground," he said. The city has blamed Ottawa's restrictive medical marijuana laws for the rise of pot dispensaries in Vancouver - to 94 from fewer than 20 just three years ago. Ambrose said in an emailed statement that she was "deeply disappointed" with the decision. "Marijuana is neither an approved drug nor medicine in Canada, and Health Canada does not endorse its use," she said. "Storefronts selling marijuana are illegal, and under this Conservative government will remain illegal. We expect the police to enforce the law." Jamie Shaw of B.C. Compassion Club Society, Vancouver's oldest dispensary, which would now be forced to move, called the new regulations a "historic move." "It's actually great that they're encouraging some dispensaries to be a little bit more patient-focused and patient-centred while still not actually outlawing more recreational-minded ones," she said. Council's decision comes after four days of public hearings that drew more than 180 registered speakers, many of whom complained about a proposed ban on edible products such as brownies and cookies. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt