Pubdate: Wed, 21 Oct 2015
Source: Metro (Vancouver, CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Metro Canada
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3775
Author: Emily Jackson

ROBERTSON: CITY TO PUSH AHEAD WITH POT REGULATION

Dispensary licensing plan won't wait for Liberal policy

Vancouver will not pause its push to regulate illegal marijuana
dispensaries to wait and see what the Liberals, who have promised to
legalize marijuana, have in store for pot shops, Mayor Gregor
Robertson said at a news conference Tuesday.

"We're midstream in implementing the new regulations for marijuana
dispensaries. I expect that work will continue," Robertson told reporters.

The city is in the midst of a very complex business licensing process
that aims to control the more than 100 pot shops that have cropped up
around town in the past few years. It aims to balance access for
patients with keeping marijuana away from children, and it's
proceeding even though the federal government outlaws the sale of pot
from dispensaries.

But it's not clear if these regulations will mesh with federal law if
the Liberals follow through with their promise to legalize, regulate
and tax marijuana. If they don't, the city could be wasting its time
and money on a system that will soon be outdated.

Alternatively, Robertson hinted the Liberals could borrow the city's
plan and apply it to cities around the country.

"We've obviously got a jump on that given the work we're doing to
regulate dispensaries," he said. "That will need to be harmonized with
a new federal approach."

Regardless, Robertson supports drug policy reform and will otherwise
leave it in the federal government's court.

"The current system is broken and basically just serves to enrich
organized crime," he said. "We want to see change."
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MAP posted-by: Matt