Pubdate: Fri, 18 Sep 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: Laura Kane
Page: S4

POLICE BOARD DISMISSES POT- SHOP ENFORCEMENT COMPLAINT

Vancouver's police board has unanimously rejected a prominent 
advocate's complaint that the city's police department was failing to 
enforce the law against marijuana dispensaries.

Pamela McColl of the group Smart Approaches to Marijuana Canada had 
accused the department of not doing its duty "to maintain law and 
order" by not shutting down all pot shops in the city.

But Deputy Chief Doug LePard delivered a report to the board Thursday 
that stated criminal laws are less effective than municipal bylaws at 
closing illegal businesses.

The Vancouver Police Department must respect the city of Vancouver's 
decision not to use its bylaw powers to shut down dispensaries and 
instead create a regulatory framework, he said.

"We don't operate in a vacuum. We have to consider the circumstances 
that we operate in," Deputy Chief LePard told the board.

"We have the greatest of respect for policy decisions that the 
democratically elected council has decided on, and we will work in 
that environment."

The police board, chaired by Mayor Gregor Robertson, voted 
unanimously to dismiss Ms. McColl's complaint after less than 10 
minutes of discussion.

Deputy Chief LePard said the VPD must use its limited resources to 
deal with more serious drug offences and dispensaries that are 
suspected of selling to youth or involved with organized crime.

Police have executed 11 search warrants at pot shops and recommended 
multiple charges since 2013.
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