Pubdate: Sat, 26 Sep 2015 Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2015 Nanaimo Daily News Contact: http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608 Author: Darrell Bellaart Page: 3 COUNCILLOR WANTS CITY TO SET POT DISPENSARY RULES It's time the city of Nanaimo set rules for medical marijuana dispensaries to operate, says Coun. Jerry Hong. At last count, there were nine dispensaries operating without a city licence. Run by societies, they operate unregulated, without a business licence. Vancouver city council recently moved to regulate that city's shops to keep them away from schools, to prevent sales to minors and to ban the sale of cannabis-infused chocolates or sweets that could harm children. Hong was emboldened by a presentation on the subject by a Washington State lawyer Tonia Winchester, at the Union of B.C. Municipalities. He said it gave him confidence to stand up to federal laws that no longer have public support. "I would like to regulate it, and after this conference, I'm better informed," Hong said. Winchester told delegates how Washington residents saw a proliferation of medical marijuana dispensaries before the referendum that resulted in that state legalizing marijuana, without support from the federal government. She said Washington State, and a growing number of other states, are acting in spite of federal U.S. law that forbids the sale and use of cannabis B.C. is now where Washington State was before that with its growing number of dispensaries. Winchester told delegates in Vancouver that municipalities can take action to support retail cannabis outlets. The city of Vancouver has already taken steps in that direction, by rebuffing Ottawa's attempt to stop the city from regulating dispensaries. Vancouver plans to proceed despite Health Canada assertions that dispensaries are illegal, and threatens to enforce the bylaw against 13 shops if those shops continue to sell cannabis. Nanaimo city councillors are awaiting a staff report on the subject, due in October. Hong first heard Winchester speak on the issue at the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities. "Her point was: Yes it's illegal do to this and the federal government in the U.S. controls it, but you know what, let's see how this plays out," Hong said. "For us to be scared all the time, I don't want to be scared." He said Ottawa has "nothing in the works" to address gaps between the law and public opinion. "We need something to say how far away from a school should it be. We need to set some guidelines," Hong said. "We just can't wait, and if we wait too long, we'll be behind the eight-ball, waiting for the federal government." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom